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LONDON: (Left to right) Chelsea’s Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic, Ivorian striker , Nigerian John biO Mikel, French defender and English defender John Terry celebrate after the English football match against Crystal Palace. Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at a festive, sun-soaked Stamford Bridge today to claim their first Premier League title since 2010. — AFP Hazard storms Palace to give Chelsea title

was more important. This was my last title and I will sage in the match-day programme-”Three more try to get another one. “The group starts with the points to be champions. Let’s do it together.”-but it EPL results/standings Chelsea 1 League Cup and the Premier League, but we know took the hosts a while to get going. in future it’s very difficult and other teams will come With Didier Drogba dropping deep up front, Chelsea 1 (Hazard 45) Crystal Palace 0; Tottenham 0 Manchester City 1 (Aguero 29). even stronger. Chelsea struggled to get in behind the visitors, who Playing today: Hull v Arsenal “England’s not the best country to be a force and posed a threat on the break through the quicksilver Crystal Palace 0 dominate football.” The title success, the club’s fifth dribbling of left-winger Wilfried Zaha. English Premier League table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, in total, follows Chelsea’s triumph over Tottenham When Chelsea did begin to create chances, they points): in the League Cup final and sets the seal on a cam- found Palace goalkeeper Speroni in jittery form. The : Eden Hazard scored the only goal as paign they have dominated from start to finish. Argentine was obliged to save at his near post from Chelsea 35 25 8 2 69 27 83 West Brom 35 10 10 15 33 46 40 Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at a festive, sun- The title-clinching win was characteristic of Nemanja Matic after failing to claim a Cesc — champions Aston Villa 35 9 8 18 29 50 35 soaked Stamford Bridge yesterday to claim their Chelsea’s gritty recent displays and it gave Fabregas free-kick, while another set-piece saw him Man City 35 21 7 7 71 36 70 Newcastle 35 9 8 18 36 60 35 first Premier League title since 2010. Arsenal 33 20 7 6 63 32 67 Hull 34 8 10 16 32 45 34 Mourinho the eighth league crown of his manageri- unconvincingly fumble away a shot from Drogba. Man Utd 35 19 8 8 59 35 65 The Belgian headed in after Julian Speroni had al career. “It’s been five years since we’ve won it,” It required a trademark, full-bodied block from Leicester 35 9 7 19 39 54 34 Liverpool 35 18 7 10 49 38 61 Sunderland 34 6 15 13 28 50 33 parried his self-won penalty late in the first half to captain John Terry, who has led Chelsea to four of Terry, meanwhile, to prevent Jason Puncheon giv- Tottenham 35 17 7 11 55 50 58 register his 19th goal of the season and carry Jose their five league titles, told during a ing Palace the lead, the ball flicking away off the Southampton 35 17 6 12 48 28 57 QPR 35 7 6 22 39 61 27 Mourinho’s side over the line with three games to post-match interview on a pitch strewn with blue Chelsea captain’s arm. Swansea 35 15 8 12 43 44 53 Burnley 35 5 11 19 26 53 26 spare. Chelsea preserved their 13-point lead over and white ticker-tape. But on the cusp of half-time, Hazard, as he has West Ham 35 12 11 12 43 42 47 Note: top four teams qualify for next season’s outgoing champions Manchester City, who won 1-0 “The first one (in 2005) was special and when done so often this season, supplied the break- Stoke 35 13 8 14 39 44 47 Champions League; fifth-place team qualifies for at Tottenham Hotspur, and moved 16 points clear of you go four or five years without it, it hurts. So I’ll through. Despite minimal contact, James McArthur Everton 35 11 11 13 46 46 44 Europa League; bottom three teams relegated to Arsenal, who visit Hull City on Monday, meaning really enjoy it today.” Hazard, recently voted Player was adjudged to have impeded the Belgium for- Crystal Palace 35 11 9 15 42 48 42 Championship. they can no longer be caught. of the Year by the Professional Footballers’ ward in the penalty area as he burst onto Willian’s “Every title is a consequence of hard work and a Association, said: “We deserve to be champions, and back-heel. Hazard took the penalty himself and Chelsea’s fans spent part of the second half survival long since secure, even their fans left the reason to be happy and proud,” said Mourinho, who everyone at Chelsea is happy today. “I know the although Speroni blocked his initial shot-the first addressing odes to their club’s former stars, but Bridge with smiles on their faces. “I feel a little bit has now won three league titles with Chelsea after team need me and a player like me. I am here to time he has failed to score from the spot in 10 Thibaut Courtois had to save decisively from Zaha hard done by,” said Palace manager Alan Pardew on previous successes in 2005 and 2006 during his first score, and this season all the players did well.” attempts in the Premier League-he followed in to before the champagne could be uncorked. Palace the penalty incident. “But it’s not about us today. We spell at the club. “I can’t evaluate and say which one Mourinho sent his side out with a succinct mes- head home. have now lost three games in succession, but with gave a great account of ourselves.” —AFP King of Aguero downs Spurs crown. But Tottenham striker Harry Kane should have drawn level with Aguero in the race to finish as the Tottenham 0 league’s top scorer after woeful City defending the ring allowed him to race unopposed onto Erik Lamela’s pass, only for the England international to drag his LAS VEGAS: Floyd Mayweather Jr cemented his hurried shot wide. After that shambolic opening, City place among the pantheon of boxing greats by Man City 1 settled and Aguero smashed a volley narrowly past improving to 48-0 with a unanimous decision over the far post. Aguero should have punished a rush of Manny Pacquiao on Saturday in a fight that lived blood from Hugo Lloris when the Tottenham goal- up to its immense hype and price tag. LONDON: Sergio Aguero lifted Manchester City’s keeper sprinted out of his area in a failed attempt to Mayweather weathered an early assault from spirits as the Argentine’s fine finish clinched a 1-0 win intercept Pablo Zabaleta’s long pass. the Filipino southpaw before winning the later at Tottenham on the day his side’s reign as Premier The ball bounced through to Aguero but before rounds using his reach and jab to finish ahead on League champions came to an end. he could take aim at the empty net he lost his bal- all three scorecards in a welterweight showdown Manuel Pellegrini’s team kicked off just half an ance with Tottenham defender Federico Fazio in pur- set to be the top grossing prize fight of all-time. hour after Chelsea were crowned champions with a suit, sparking an unsuccessful penalty appeal. “When the history books are written, it was victory over Crystal Palace and, given the lacklustre Aguero had pounded the turf in frustration when worth the wait,” Mayweather said in the ring after a nature of their title defence, it would have been little he was denied that spot-kick, but he was soon cele- four-belt unification bout that was more than five LAS VEGAS: Floyd Mayweather Jr. (left) hits Manny Pacquiao, from the Philippines, during their surprise to see City turn in a disinterested display at brating a typically clinical piece of finishing in the years in the making. Though Pacquiao repeatedly welterweight title fight on Saturday. — AP White Hart Lane. But Aguero’s predatory instincts 29th minute. Prompted by City goalkeeper Joe Hart’s forced Mayweather to backpedal, the wily When the two camps finally hammered out a led with energy as the rich and famous settled into came to the rescue as he netted the first half winner quick clearance from a Tottenham corner, David Silva American blunted his opponent’s best efforts by deal, it was the richest in boxing history, setting their ringside seats. that kept City in second place and effectively guaran- advanced unchecked before delivering a fine pass to using his renowned defensive skills while getting new records for pay-per-view (PPV) buys and gate Actors Clint Eastwood, Robert De Niro, Mark teed their berth in next season’s Champions League. pick out Aguero’s astute run and, with Tottenham’s in several telling jabs and punches of his own. receipts. The fighters were also paid royally for their Wahlberg and Denzel Washington rubbed shoul- City’s third successive win moved them nine defenders failing to pick him up, the Argentina for- Mayweather and Pacquiao had promised to night’s work, with Mayweather guaranteed $120 ders with sports celebrities such as Michael Jordan, points clear of fifth placed Liverpool with a vastly ward had time and space to blast his shot high into deliver on years of hype and give fans their mon- million and Pacquiao $80 million although both New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and superior goal difference and only three games the roof of the net. Aguero’s fifth goal in his last four ey’s worth and were true to their word in delivering men could pocket much more depending on the billionaire Donald Trump. remaining. “It was a close game and Sergio scored a appearances was nearly followed by a much rarer an entertaining contest that had the capacity number of PPV purchases. With prime seats commanding six-figure sums great goal,” Pellegrini said. “I’m very happy because strike for City team-mate Fernandinho, who saw his crowd on its feet roaring from the opening bell to For Mayweather, the fight was one that will on the resale market even the very wealthy and we played well against a difficult team. effort cleared off the line by Danny Rose. the end of the 12 round showcase. shape his legacy. Even if he were to have retired very famous were forced to call in favours to secure “You must remember against Tottenham that Another quick City break exposed Tottenham’s “Manny Pacquiao is a hell of fighter, I see now unbeaten there would have forever been a ques- a golden ticket while an estimated 150,000 to Chelsea conceded five goals, we have a clean sheet. fragile rearguard again, but Fernandinho fired wide why he is at the pinnacle of boxing,” the 38-year- tion mark hanging over his career without at least 200,000 fight fans flooded into the desert gam- “Maybe Chelsea are more consistent this year and and Pochettino’s side would have been level before old Mayweather said after an emotional embrace one meeting against his Filipino rival. bling capital to be part of the buzz. they won the league, but we scored more when we half-time if Hart hadn’t made an excellent stop to with Pacquiao. “I’m a smart fighter, I outboxed him. Mayweather said in the ring that he would fight Wearing a simple white T-shirt, Pacquiao knelt did it.” While City were able to restore some pride in deny Ryan Mason. City’s costly penchant for suicidal “We knew what we had to do. He’s a tough com- again but that his next bout would be his last. “My in his corner for a prayer as boos filled the hall north London, Tottenham’s eighth defeat in their last defending has haunted them this season and they petitor... a very awkward fighter and I had to take last fight is in September and then it is time for me when Mayweather appeared on the giant screens. nine encounters with the Eastlands outfit all but end- were fortunate to escape on the hour when Martin my time and watch him closely.” to hang it up,” Mayweather added. “I am almost 40 There were no smiles from the stone-faced ed their own bid for a top four finish. Demichelis inexplicably let the ball run through to The fight between the two greatest boxers of years old now, I have been in the sport 19 years, I American as he entered the ring wearing black It left Mauricio Pochettino’s side seven points Kane, whose shot was blocked by Hart. their generation was one that appeared might have been world champion 18 years. “I am truly white and gold trunks and sporting a $23,000 behind fourth placed Manchester United. With Aguero scuffed wide from close-range after los- never happen as Pacquiao resisted Mayweather’s thankful and I am blessed.” Dubbed the “Fight of mouth guard infused with flecks of gold and Chelsea’s title party in full swung across London, ing his balance as he rounded Lloris, who then had to demands for blood-testing for five years. the Century” the MGM Grand Garden Arena crack- pieces of a hundred dollar bill. —Reuters Pellegrini’s men badly needed a dynamic perform- produce a leaping save to keep out Aleksandar ance to raise morale after limply surrendering their Kolarov’s fierce drive. —AFP