Cardiff 0-1 Portsmouth

Nwanko Kanu scores the only goal of the FA Cup final at Wembley.

In an entertaining final, Portsmouth’s Kanu hit the solitary goal on 37 minutes.

Cardiff certainly played their part in the free flowing game, playing with a positive manner but ultimately Portsmouth’s class was too much for the Welsh side.

Kanu should have got the opener on 21 minutes. Sulley Muntari played him in, his trademark quick footwork took the ball around Enckelman, but he shot against the post when the goal was open from an acute angle.

It didn’t take the Nigerian long to make amends though, Utaka whipped in a low cross from the right, Enckelman should have punched the ball away, instead he pushed it towards the oncoming Kanu who knocked it into the net from close range.

Cardiff were unfortunate not to have replied when they had a goal ruled out at the end of the first half. A David James blooper, he missed a cross, as he attempted to recover he knocked the ball against the arm of Loovens, Loovens reacted quickly and looped the ball over the melee of defenders and into the net. But the referee disallowed the goal, perhaps harshly.

The second half did not quite live up to the example set by the first half, but Cardiff were still willing to press Pompey whenever they could get on the ball.

Although Cardiff ended with a half chance or two, Portsmouth were cheering at the final whistle, as they celebrated Wembley glory and their UEFA Cup place.

Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that he may quit Manchester United for Spain this summer.

Manchester United star, Cristiano Ronaldo has dropped a bombshell in the lead up to the Champions League final against Chelsea. In an interview with a Spanish TV station, Ronaldo said that he would love to play in Spain but will wait to see what happens after the final next week.

The revelation will shock Ferguson as he prepares for the encounter with Chelsea. Ferguson sees the 23 year old Portuguese winger as key to the short term future of the club and was instrumental in keeping Ronaldo at United following the World Cup, when Ronaldo was a move.

Cristiano Ronaldo:

I’m happy here, but let’s see what happens after the Champions League final. I know Real Madrid like how I play and other teams in Spain do as well.

It is good to know that other clubs are interested in you. I have said millions of times that I would love to play in Spain, but it’s one thing to dream and another thing for it to be a reality.

I am feeling calm here. I’m happy here but in the future I don’t know.

Former Celtic player Tommy Burns has died at the age of 51 after losing his battle against cancer.

The ex Scotland international had been receiving treatment both at home in Glasgow and abroad in recent weeks after skin cancer, which he overcame in 2006, returned in March of this year.

Burns played for Celtic for 15 years and also managed the Scottish giants in the mid 90’s.

A statement from Celtic said: “Tommy, a true Celtic legend and wonderful man will be sadly missed by us all. Clearly, our thoughts are very much with Tommy’s wife, Rosemary, and his family at this extremely difficult time.”

And Billy McNeil added “Tommy was a very genuine man and he enjoyed life. If there was a party, Tommy Burns would be out there singing and enjoying himself.

“He had a relationship with the fans.They believed he was one of them and he enjoyed that.

“He was a fantastic football player. He was effective, so effective.

England defender Rio Ferdinand has signed a new contract at Old Trafford which will keep him at the Premier League champions until 2013.

Ferdinand and fellow defender Wes Brown agreed the broad outline of long term deals last month and both put pen to paper today.

They are likely to be joined by Michael Carrick who’s also expected to agree a five year deal in the next few weeks.

“Rio’s contribution this season has been a major factor in our outstanding defensive performance and I am delighted he has signed a new contract,” said manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

“Manchester United is a fantastic club and I am delighted I have signed a new contract,” said Ferdinand.

“It is a great honour to be part of this trophy winning team and to share in the success, which I am sure, will continue for many seasons to come.

Chelsea boss Avram Grant has said that United were handed the title by the Premier League referee.

Avram Grant has taken at shot at Manchester United and referee Steve Bennett. Grant has made it quite clear that he thinks Steve Bennett, who refereed Manchester United’s final game of the season against Wigan, handed the trophy to them.

Any neutrals that watched the game would understand where Grant is coming from;

1. Rio Ferdinand hand balled in the penalty area, Wigan were denied a penalty.

2. Paul Scholes deserved a second yellow for an intentional foul on Palacios, Bennett didn’t give it.

3. United were awarded a dubious penalty when Rooney and Boyce tangled in the area, from which they scored.

Avram Grant:

I looked at the game. He (the referee) was, as expected, good for one team.

I told you that I believed in the tradition of the fair English game. I will not say anything against it. But what happened is what I expected.

In England there are very good referees, but there are some - a few that you can influence, like you saw.

Rangers outplayed as Zenit take their first European trophy.

The Rangers fans descended on Manchester for the 50th UEFA Cup final at the City of Manchester Stadium in England, but the Russian team took the glory as they earned their first European trophy.

Zenit St. Petersburg left it late, but goals from Igor Denisov in the 72nd minute and from Konstantin Zyrianov in injury time were a genuine reflection on the game. Coached by Dick Advocaat, Zenit were happy going forward but also patient in their build up play and they had the talented Andrei Arshavin who added finesse to the Russian side.

Rangers fans can get a quick pick me up in their time of sorrow. They are still on track to win the Scottish Premier League at the expense of Glasgow rival Celtic, and also to take the Scottish Cup. But there is no hiding the fact that the trophy they wanted has escaped Rangers Coach Walter Smith.

Walter Smith:

You don’t get the opportunity very often to get to European finals and when you do, it’s very disappointing to lose.

Zenit looked the more offensive team, but we’ve had a terrific tournament. In the end, I can have no complaints.

With an English club guaranteed to win the Champions League next week, Rangers will aim to make it a British clean sweep in Europe this season when they take on Zenit St Petersburg in the final of the Uefa Cup in Manchester tonight.

Rangers have already won the Scottish League Cup, are finalists in the Scotish FA Cup and still have a major chance of taking the league title.

The Glasgow giants haven’t woin a European trophy since 1972 and such is the interest in the game, more than 100,000 Rangers fans are expected to travel south despite the fact that the City of Manchester stadium only has a capacity of 44,000.

Big screens have been put up in the city to allow ticketless fans to watch the game.

Rangers manager Walter Smith, who’s up against former Gers boss Dick Advocaat who leads the Russian outfit, is unconcerned by the critics of his team’s tactics as he aims to bring Scotland its first European trophy since Aberdeen beat Real Madrid in the 1983 Cup-Winners’ Cup final. He said:

So far, we’ve had a lot of negative comments about us.

We’ve had a lot of situations where people say that Rangers play anti-football, rubbish football or whatever.

But, for a first-year team, we’ve settled in well and, for those teams that have lost to us, if they are that good, why have they not beaten us?

After leading Manchester United to a 10th Premier League title, Sir Alex Ferguson has won the League Managers’ Association manager of the year award.

The 66 year old was presented with the award by England boss Fabio Capello.

“It is a tremendous honour that my fellow managers should deem me worthy of this award,” said Ferguson. “I’m very proud to receive it.”

The Scot, who will be looking to add the Champions League trophy to the league title next Wednesday against Chelsea, has been in charge at Old Trafford for 22 years and also received the accolade in 1999 when he guided United to a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup Treble.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba insists he will be fit for next week’s Champions League final against Manchester United.

And, with more good new for the London club, the Ivory Coast international insists that captain John Terry will also be in the starting line up as well.

Both players were injured in Chelsea’s final league match of the season, the 1 – 1 home draw to Bolton Wanderers that put paid to their title ambitions. Drogba picked a knock to his knee and Terry partially dislocated his elbow after a collision with goal keeper Petr Cech.

Drogba told French newspaper L’Equipe there was “nothing serious” about his injury. “I put ice on it immediately. I will be at training this week” he added.

And of Terry, he said: “I have spoken to him. He will play in Moscow. No-one wants to miss this gigantic match.”

He called the Moscow showdown so important that it was regarded in the Chelsea dressing-room as “the match of our careers.”

Fulham, following their amazing Premier League relegation escape, may cap their season off with a UEFA Cup place.

Fulham may be in for an end of season ’surprise ticket’ into the UEFA Cup, by virtue of the UEFA Fair Play Table.

Manchester City were on target to claim the spot, but following Richard Dunne’s dismissal in their 8-1 defeat to Middlesbrough, Fulham may now have moved into pole position.

Fair Play Table

Just how the table works is a complicated procedure. All teams from a football association (in this case The English FA) are marked for their fair play ranking of that association. This includes all national teams and all clubs in all UEFA competitions. Marks are score between June 1st and May 31st of the given season.

England are currently top of this league, meaning the team with the highest tally in the English Fair Play League, that has not already qualified for a European competition will get the entry.

View Table

1 Tottenham (qualified for UEFA Cup via Carling Cup win)

2 Manchester United (qualified for Champions League)

3 Liverpool (qualified for Champions League)

4 Arsenal (qualified for Champions League)

5 Manchester City (likely to lose points for Dunne sending off)

6 Everton (qualified for UEFA Cup via 5th position in Premier League)

7 Fulham (hoping to climb above Man City)

The points are attributed based on a number of factors such as; respect towards referees/opponents, positive play and behaviour of club officials, as well as red and yellow cards. The Premier League has to wait for all delegates’ reports before the final standings can be compiled and UEFA must then run an audit. Therefore the final table is not expected to be confirmed for a few days.

Chelsea have agreed a deal with Porto to sign Jose Bosingwa for £16 million, subject to the player passing a medical.

Jose Bosingwa, 25, is a Portuguese international right back currently signed to Porto.

It is thought that Avram Grant feels Chelsea are lacking quality in the right back position, with Paulo Ferriera and Juliano Belletti recently playing in that position. Bosingwa if signed, will be competing with his fellow countryman Paulo Ferriera.

Porto Statement:

FC Porto wishes to inform the market that a deal has been reached in principle with Chelsea for the definitive sale of the rights of Jose Bosingwa for the price of €20.5m. The club also announces that the agreement of this transfer will be made formal once the player has passed medical tests.

Chelsea Statement: 

  Chelsea can confirm it has reached agreement with FC Porto for the transfer of Jose Bosingwa. The player is now in England to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical.

Jose Bosingwa wears Puma V Konstrukt II football boots.

Fabio Capello has named his 30 man squad to face USA at Wembley, and travel to Trinidad and Tobago.

England face the USA on the 28th May, before travelling to Trinidad and Tobago as Fabio Capello prepares his squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.

After the Premier League came to a close, Fabio Capello selected an initial squad of 30 players for the summer friendlies, as England under Steve McClaren failed to qualify for Euro 2008, these are the last England fixtures of the season.

There are six uncapped players in the squad: Joe Hart, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Dean Ashton, Phil Jagielka, David Wheater and Stephen Warnock.

Joe Hart receives his first call up to the England squad after a strong season with Manchester City, while there are six further players who along with Hart are yet to earn an England senior cap.

Theo Walcott, who was named in Stuart Pearce’s Under-21 squad for their friendly with Wales, will link up with the senior party once the U21 game has been played.

The England Squad:Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Joe Hart (Man City), Chris Kirkland (Wigan).

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Man Utd), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), John Terry (Chelsea), Stephen Warnock (Blackburn), David Wheater (Middlesbrough), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), David Bentley (Blackburn), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Owen Hargreaves (Man Utd), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham), Frank Lampard (Chelsea).

Forwards: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Dean Ashton (West Ham), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth), Michael Owen (Newcastle), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd).

John Terry, injured against Bolton with a dislocated elbow.

The Chelsea captain clashed with his own goalkeeper Petr Cech and was stretchered off the pitch.

Both Terry and Cech jumped to challenge aerially, and Terry’s arm looked to have got caught by Cech, resulting in a serious injury for John Terry. Initially it was thought that Terry had possibly a broken collar bone or broken elbow. Terry, not one to over react, was obviously in serious distress, as he fell to the ground he was seen slapping the turf and calling on assistance.

John Terry’s injury was so serious that medics at Chelsea immediately sent him to hospital for tests. The tests revealed that John Terry had dislocated his elbow.

Terry was replaced by Juliano Belletti in the Chelsea defence, with Frank Lampard taking on the armband.

The forthcoming match will be the biggest concern for Chelsea. Chelsea and Manchester United will meet again next Wednesday 21st May in the Champions League final.

Wigan Athletic 0-2 Manchester United

Manchester United win the Premier League at Wigan, with a Ronaldo penalty and a Giggs goal.

Wigan demonstrated in the opening minutes that they were not about to roll over and let United party. They moved the ball around well and were up for this challenge.

Half way through the first period and Wigan might have upset the favourites, when they should have had a penalty after Rio Ferdinand deflected a shot with his arm. The referee didn’t give it, but the replay’s suggested that they were hard done by, not only for not getting the decision but also as Ferdinand should certainly have been sent off.

Minutes later and United made the most of their good fortune. A loose ball in the box and Boyce and Rooney went for the ball, they tangled and Boyce was harshly adjudged to have fouled Rooney and a penalty was awarded.

Ronaldo took the penalty and he slotted it calmly to Kirkland’s left hand side.

Wigan must have thought they were playing against United’s 11 and the referee when Scholes fouled Palacios. Already on a yellow card, Scholes intentionally blocked Palacios as he bombed down the line. Referee Steve Bennett should have sent the fiery midfielder from play, but must have let the occasion get to him and instead ticked Scholes off.

But United came out sharply in the second half and within minutes they may have had another penalty. Scholes who was fortunate to be on the field, had the ball close to the byline in the Wigan box, Bramble slid in without making any contact with the ball. The referee was blind to the action and looked to the assistant referee for support, the assistant shook his head and Scholes was unlucky.

Shortly afterwards Wigan reminded United that they were still able to upset things when on 68 minutes, Heskey’s header had Van der Sar beaten, but he was unable to keep it under the bar.

The Premier League title was all tied up with ten minutes left, Rooney slotted the ball through to Giggs just outside the box, as Kirkland came out Giggs sidefooted into the net. A timely goal for Giggs who equalled Bobby Charlton’s appearance record of 758 matches for United.

Manchester United had to grind this one out, a credential that means the Premier League title remains at Old Trafford.