Claude Makelele scored on a rebound of his penalty kick in the second
minute of injury time Saturday, helping Chelsea celebrate its first league
championship trophy in 50 years by beating Charlton 1-0.
Chelsea (28-1-7) has 91 points and can set a record for top-level
English soccer if it wins one more game or ties its remaining two.
Manchester United set the record of 92 points in 1994.
Makelele, in his second season with Chelsea, scored his first goal for
the team minutes before the Blues were handed the English Premier League
trophy. Chelsea was awarded the shot after Frank Lampard had gone down
inside the penalty area. Makelele's penalty kick was blocked by Charlton
goalkeeper Stephan Anderssen, but the former France midfielder followed
with the rebound.
Chelsea missed two earlier opportunities - Anderssen pushed Joe Cole's
shot onto the crossbar and John Terry's header hit the post.
"My kids are so small they think I win every year because every season
they see their father is a champion," said Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho,
who joined the Blues last June after leading Portugal's FC Porto to the
Champions League title. "One day they have to come down to reality because
their father can't win every season."
U.S. forward Brian McBride scored a goal past countryman Brad Friedel
to lead Fulham to a 3-1 win at Blackburn.
At the bottom of the standings , Norwich moved away from last
place and out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 victory over Birmingham.
Two other relegation candidates, Crystal Palace and Southampton, tied 2-2.
Last-place West Bromwich Albion surprisingly held Manchester United to
a 1-1 tie, making sure the relegation struggle goes down to the final
round next weekend. Ryan Giggs scored for United from a free kick, but
Robbie Earnshaw tied it with a penalty kick.
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-08 09:32
