Jermaine Johnson - Reuters LONDON, England (CMC):
Jamaicans Jermaine Johnson and Deon Burton helped propel Sheffield Wednesday to victory and a double strike by Trinidad and Tobago's Kenwyne Jones led Southampton past Southend in the English League Championship yesterday.
Wednesday edged Norwich 3-2 and Southampton pummelled Southend 4-1 as the Championship season ended.
Sunderland, with Trinidad and Tobago internationals Dwight Yorke, Carlos Edwards and Stern John, emerged English League Championship winners after a 5-0 win over Luton. Sunderland, earning automatic promotion to the premiership, finished with 88 points, two more than Birmingham.
SUPERB GOAL
Johnson netted a superb goal for Sheffield Wednesday in the 26th minute while more than 28,000 fans watched at Hillsborough.
He darted inside opposing defender Adam Drury from the right flank and fired home a left-footed shot into the top corner in a spectacular effort.
Burton, a scoring hero of Jamaica's historic qualification for the 1998 World Cup Finals in France, made Norwich pay for poor marking just before half-time and drilled in a shot - at the far post - into the roof of the net.
It became 3-0 when Dickson Etuhu scored an own goal in the 50th minute.
Robert Earnshaw's header in the 56th minute and Dion Dublin (75th) made the finish tight but Wednesday held on for the win and a ninth-place finish in the standings - their highest position in a league campaign since they were relegated from the top flight in 2000.
PLAY-OFFS
At St. Mary's Stadium, Jones hit the first and last goals for Southampton to beat Southend handsomely, confirming their spot in the play-offs for a premiership spot.
Adam Barrett gave Southend a 13th-minute lead but Jones struck an equaliser with a header in the 29th minute.
Leon Best then struck a double for Southampton - with goals in the 48th and 80th minutes - to surge into a winning lead, and Jones got his second in the 81st minute to seal the victory.
Latching on to a loose ball, Jones smashed in a firm shot nine minutes from the end for his 16th goal of the season.
Southampton ended sixth in the table with 75 points, trailing Sunderland, Birmingham (86), Derby (84), West Brom (76), and Wolverhampton (76).
