Chelsea seal English Premier League title
Published:Monday | May 10, 2010 | 9:28 AM
Chelsea clinched the Barclays Premier League title in style yesterday by hammering 10-man Wigan 8-0, with Didier Drogba scoring a second-half hat-trick.
The Blues went ahead in the sixth minute through Nicolas Anelka and two-goals up after 32 minutes when Gary Caldwell hauled down Frank Lampard in the area.
The Wigan man saw red and Lampard converted from the spot to put Chelsea 2-0 up going into the break.
Salomon Kalou scored nine minutes after the restart, Anelka grabbed his second two minutes later, then Drogba struck three times, including a penalty, after Mario Melchiot fouled Ashley Cole.
Second-placed Manchester United had needed Chelsea to slip, but they did all they could, beating Stoke City 4-0 at Old Trafford to at least close out the season in winning fashion.
Jamaican international Ricardo Fuller played all 90 minutes for Stoke City.
Meanwhile, Arsenal crushed a weakened Fulham side 4-0 to ensure they ended the season in third place.
The Gunners needed only a point to stay above Tottenham and they easily beat Fulham, who rested players ahead of Wednesday’s Europa League final.
Bolton with Reggae Boy, Ricardo Gardner, defeated Birmingham 2-1, Manchester City drew 1-1 at West Ham; an own goal from Richard Dunne in the 84th minute gave Blackburn a 1-0 win at Aston Villa, Everton scored a 1-0 win over relegated FA Cup finalists Portsmouth and Liverpool played out a goalless draw at relegated Hull.