Manchester United refused to let Chelsea ruin their title party at Old Trafford Monday as the Premiership champions rolled out 3-2 winners, their eighth straight league victory.
Goals from Romanian Dan Petrescu and Italian Gianfranco Zola had given the visitors a 2-1 lead after Trinidad and Tobago international Dwight Yorke had put United 1-0 up following a blunder by keeper Ed de Goey.
But Norwegian international Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struck six minutes before the break to level the scores before Yorke struck his second and United's third after 69 minutes to snatch all three points.
After clinching the title in Saturday's 3-1 win at Southampton, over 61,000 packed Old Trafford to witness the champions' homecoming.
Even the fact that United, unbeaten at home in the Premiership all season, will not be presented with the trophy until their final home match against Tottenham on May 6, it did not quell the celebrations.
Defeat for fifth-placed Chelsea, who had previously only lost twice at United in the league in 32 years, was a bitter blow to their chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is due to complete his record $30 million move from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven in the next 48 hours was at the match.
Yorke scored his 50th goal for United and 21st of the season in the 10th minute.
Tore-Andre Flo was causing problems for the United defenders and his hopeful cross-led to Chelsea drawing level in the 22nd minute. Petrescu and Phil Neville challenged together and the ball fell kindly for the Romanian international to fire an unstoppable volley past Van der Gouw at the near-post.
Flo and Petrescu were instrumental in Chelsea taking a 36th-minute lead. Norwegian striker Flo easily out jumped Mickael Silvestre to head back Bernard Lambourde's long angled cross to Petrescu.
The midfielder looked up before curling a pinpoint ball to the feet of Zola, whose volley bounced into the ground and over United's keeper.
The lead lasted less than three minutes, however, before Solskjaer, who had just been booked for a less severe foul than Yorke's, equalized for United. Giggs found the Norwegian in space on the left and he fired in a low shot that wrongfooted de Goey.
Solskjaer headed just over the bar from Neville's cross after 62 minutes in one of United's rare second half attacks as Chelsea enjoyed plenty of possession without threatening United's goal.
Substitute Jordi Cruyff came had an immediate impact when he came on with a little over 20 minutes to go.
The Dutchman threaded a superb pass to Beckham in the clear on the right of the area.
The midfielder's first touch was uncharacteristically poor but he still managed to get in a shot which de Goey could only palm to Yorke to slot home from a couple of yards out.
Two minutes later, Yorke tried an overhead kick, which he sliced to Cruyff on the penalty spot. De Goey stopped his sharp effort right on the goal-line.
Dutchman Mario Melchiot, making a rare appearance for the "Blues," made a twisting run into the United box and set up Flo with a clear chance but he scooped his shot on to the bar and over.
Paul Scholes blocked Zola's shot with two minutes to go and United held on for victory.
Derby edged closer to Premiership safety after beating Southampton 2-0 at Pride Park.
Goals from skipper Darryl Powell and young striker Malcolm Christie secured the victory against Glenn Hoddle's Saints.
Derby now have 36 points, nine clear of Sheffield Wednesday, who are not back in action until Sunday when they face Leeds at Hillsborough.
Southampton is already in the comfort zone with their Premiership safety assured and it showed with their play lacking any real conviction -- LONDON (AFP).
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
