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Wednesday, January 5, 2005 (London): Chelsea went seven points clear at the top of the Premier League on Tuesday after Didier Drogba scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough and champions ****nal could only scramble a 1-1 draw with Manchester City. Drogba, Chelsea's record signing when he joined from Olympique M****ille for 24 million pounds ($46.04 million) in July, struck twice in the opening 17 minutes to move Chelsea closer to their first league title for 50 years. Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips fired home a superb shot from 25 metres on 31 minutes and his side looked set for a shock win until midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg headed ****nal's equaliser with 15 minutes to play at Highbury. Chelsea, chasing their first league title for 50 years, also made ground on third-placed Manchester United, who were held to a highly controversial 0-0 home draw by Tottenham Hotspur. United keeper Roy Carroll fumbled a 90th minute long-range shot from Spurs midfielder Pedro Mendes. Pictures showed the ball had crossed the line by nearly a metre but Carroll scooped the ball back out and no goal was awarded. Chelsea's fifth consecutive win since the week before Christmas left them top on 55 points, followed by ****nal (48), United (44) and Everton (43). (AP) |