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Sports

Monday May 25, 2009

Rangers reclaim Scottish Premier League crown

GLASGOW: Rangers reclaimed the Scottish Premier League trophy from arch rivals Celtic for the first time in four years yesterday after an emphatic 3-0 win over Dundee United on the final day of the season.

Needing to win at Tannadice to be sure of clinching the club’s 52nd Scottish title, Walter Smith’s side cruised to a comfortable victory with goals from Kyle Lafferty, Pedro Mendes and Kris Boyd.

Celtic, who needed to beat Hearts in their final match to have a chance of claiming a fourth straight title, were held to a goalless draw at Parkhead, ensuring Rangers finished four points clear at the top.

The win means Rangers go straight into the group stage of next season’s Champions League while Celtic will have to get through two qualifying rounds if they are to return to Europe’s elite competition.

No sweat: Rangers’ Pedro Mendes (centre) celebrates with Kris Boyd (left) and Kenny Miller after scoring against Dundee United. Rangers won 3-0 to clinch the Scottish Premier League title. — Reuters

“It was a terrific performance. We had to produce one and I thought we were terrific here today,” Smith, who was celebrating his eighth title for the club but the first since he returned in 2007, told the BBC.

“I felt at the stage in late December when we were well behind Celtic that we would lose out but we haven’t and that’s fantastic.”

Third-placed Hearts and Aberdeen, who leapfrogged Dundee United to snatch fourth place with a 2-1 win over Hibernian at Pittodrie, will take Scotland’s Europa League places.

Rangers got off to the perfect start when Lafferty fired them ahead after only five minutes.

Steven Davis teed up Boyd with a fine through pass and although the Scotland striker did not get a clean strike, Lafferty was able to turn his team-mate’s effort into the net.

Mendes doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time after Maurice Edu won a free-kick on the edge of Dundee United’s area.

Sasa Papac’s effort was blocked but the ball fell to Mendes, who took a touch before unleashing an unstoppable 25-yard drive with his left foot.

Any doubt about the outcome of the afternoon disappeared seven minutes after the break when Boyd, who is widely expected to quit the club this summer, was rewarded for his efforts with his 31st goal of the season, a close-range finish from Steven Whittaker’s cross. — AFP

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