Wilfried Zaha fired Crystal Palace into the Championship play-off final as the England winger's double sealed a 2-0 win over arch rivals Brighton in Monday's semi-final second leg. Ian Holloway's team will face Watford at Wembley on May 27 with a lucrative place in the Premier League at stake thanks to the perfect leaving present from Zaha. Ivory Coast-born Zaha will join Manchester United at the end of the season after Palace agreed to sell him to the Premier League champions in a £15 million deal in January.

International Sports Desk, May 13 (EFE).- Manchester City fired manager Roberto Mancini on Monday, two days after the club's shocking loss to Wigan in the English FA Cup final. Club management said the "difficult decision" was "the outcome of a planned end of season review process that has been brought forward in light of recent speculation". Mancini, 48, "failed to achieve any of the club's stated targets this year, with the exception of qualification for next season's Champions League," Man City said in a statement.

Alex Ferguson thanked tens of thousands of Manchester United fans as they massed to salute him and his final title-winning side on an open-top bus parade through the city streets on Monday. United manager Ferguson, one of world football's most successful bosses, is retiring at the age of 71 after guiding the Red Devils to the English Premier League title for a 13th time. After arriving at Manchester Town Hall following the victory parade from United's Old Trafford ground, Ferguson was seen singing fans' favourite "Glory, Glory Man United" from the balcony.

Frank Lampard scored twice to become Chelsea's outright record goalscorer as Rafael Benitez's team fought back to beat Aston Villa 2-1 on Saturday and effectively ensure Champions League football next season. A hugely entertaining and eventful contest at Villa Park saw Paul Lambert's team take an early lead through Christian Benteke and they looked well set when Chelsea's Ramires was sent off on the stroke of half-time.