Charlton Athletic was relegated from the Premiership League after losing 2-0 to Tottenham Hotspur at the Valley Stadium in London on Monday.
Charlton got off to the worst possible start, allowing an early goal from the Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov after 7 minutes. Their match ended unluckily when Jermain Defoe scored another point for the Spurs in the last minute.
Chinese football team captain and Charlton Athletic midfielder Zheng Zhi was replaced by Brian Hughes in the 84th minute of play at the Valley Stadium in London. Monday May 7, 2007. [Photo: sports.sina.com.cn]The loss consigned the home defender to play the Championship league next season. All Charlton's hopes of staying in the Premiership for a seventh consecutive season were finally extinguished.
Tottenham Hotspur's win lifted them into sixth place. They are also in the running for a place in the UEFA Cup, which they have a good chance of securing.
Chinese midfielder Zheng Zhi was back in Charlton's starting line-up, but he failed to help his team score any points.
He almost contributed to a penalty at 59 minutes when he cut his right foot inside the penalty area, but Michael Dawson blocked his shot.
The Chinese national captain was replaced with English player Brian Hughes in the 84th minute.