Barney Corkhill's Unofficial World Club Championship (UWCC) saw another defence today as champions West Ham United took on title-chasing Manchester United at Upton Park.
Manchester United were attempting to regain top spot with a result here following Liverpool's last-gasp win against Portsmouth, but they came up against an in form West Ham side, who had gone eight games without defeat going into this one.
If they wanted to come away with all three points, however, they would have to find a way past the formidable Manchester United defence who had gone a phenomenal 12 league games without conceding before today's clash.
In fact, the last league game they conceded in was against Arsenal way back in November, which was also the last time they had lost a game in any competition, some 22 matches.
That run included the FIFA Club World Championships, in which United were crowned the best club in the world. Today, they were after the unofficial yet, I think we'll all agree, the more important title of being the best in the world.
And, thanks to their legendary midfielder Ryan Giggs, it is another title they have picked up.
Man United didn't play like the all-conquering team their run would suggest, but managed to grind out another victory while playing below-par.
West Ham put up a good fight, with England new-boy Carlton Cole in particular threatening Edwin van der Sar's goal, but couldn't break through United's strong defence.
Then, with just over an hour gone, Ryan Giggs showed that he still has the skills required to be a Premier League player with a moment of magic to bring him his first league goal of the season.
He cut in from the left, beat a couple of West Ham defenders and curled the ball into the far corner. A late penalty claim was waved away by Phil Dowd before United held on to regain top spot and become, unofficially, the greatest club side in the world.
Commiserations to West Ham, who defended the title four times, recording an average of 2.5 points per game, an all-time high. They scored seven goals, and conceded just two during their time in the UWCC spotlight.
Manchester United, on the other hand, become the third team to hold the title while being top of the Premier League, following in the footsteps of Chelsea and Liverpool.
Of the 117 votes in the poll, just 20.5 percent of people said that Manchester United would be able to beat West Ham and claim the UWCC title so well done to the minority!
Manchester United's run
West Ham 0-1 Manchester United (Manchester United become new champions)
(Click here to see the complete history of Barney Corkhill's Unofficial World Club Championship.)
Congratulations to Manchester United for becoming the sixth champions of Barney Corkhill's UWCC. Their first title defence comes next Sunday as they take on Derby in the FA Cup Fifth Round. Could Derby County become the best team in the world?!
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