The Chelsea Blues won their first Barclay’s Premiership title since 2006 after handedly defeating Wigan Athletic 8-0 Sunday.
The Premiership is the top tier football league in England and its title is the highest honor for domestic football in that country.
After sitting within points of each other practically all season, Chelsea was able to give themselves a point advantage going into week 37 where they played their last game. Chelsea drew Wigan while Manchester United under the care of Sir Alex Ferguson drew Stoke City. This was a must win for the Blues as United were expected to take all three points with a win over Stoke.
The last game for the two English powerhouses was not a good indication of the fervent season for the two clubs who ran neck and neck in the points table all season. Chelsea, who played first live on Fox Soccer Channel, did not take long to prove why they were point leaders scoring early and frequently in the mach.
Frank Lampard, arguably Chelsea’s most consistant player, found Nicolas Anelka for the first goal before Lampard was pulled down in the box to give the Blues a penalty kick. To add insult to injury, Wigan defender Gary Caldwell was sent off with a direct red kick before Lampard slid the ball expertly in the back of the net.
They did not let up as Drogba was desperate to not only win the league title but end the season with the most goals of any striker. He accomplished this in spades after he notched three more goals with a second half hat trick that left him with 29 of the season and thirteen assists.
Ferguson’s golden boy Wayne Rooney on the other hand could not find the back of the net in their finale against Stoke and limped off the field with a commendable 26 goals and 6 assists.
Manchester United took the field at Old Trafford hours later, knowing they could not reclaim the title for the 2009-2010 season. Still they gave their devoted home field fans the send off they deserved with a 4-0 win over Stoke City.
For soccer fans around the world, the BPL race was one of the most exciting in years despite the end which fizzled instead of igniting the passion that the game gives future Rooney’s and Drogba’s. Next season will begin a new race and hopefully it will be just as exciting where every team starts at zero points and no team is left out to win the title.
