Man City snatch Premier League title in dramatic style
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A dramatic finish at the Etihad Stadium saw Manchester City score twice in stoppage-time to secure their first English top flight title in 44 years.
City opened the scoring against Queens Park Rangers on 39 minutes when Pablo Zabaleta's raid into the box down the right culminated in an angled drive that somehow beat Paddy Kenny.
The visitors drew level within three minutes of the break as when Joleon Lescott's awful error allowed Djibril Cissé through and the striker rifled past Joe Hart with a fine first-time finish.
It seemed that Joey Barton's red card with 35 minutes left to play would change the complexion of the game, after the famously volatile midfielder elbowed Carlos Tévez.
Barton off in disgrace but his QPR team-mates dumbfounded the hosts with a lethal counterattack on 66 minutes, ending in Jamie Mackie nodding powerfully home for an unlikely lead.
With Manchester United winning 1-0 at Sunderland courtesy of Wayne Rooney's first-half goal, it all looked to be in vain as the game entered five minutes of stoppage time.
Edin Džeko's 92nd minute header changed that, as the substitute headed in from a corner to give fresh hope.
Sergio Agüero then wrote his name into City's history books when he fired in with just a minute of stoppage time remaining to send the Etihad faifhful into ecstasy.
"It was incredible - they deserved this," City boss Roberto Mancini told Sky Sports. "To win it like this is incredible. I don't think I've ever seen a finale like this.
"It's fantastic for the club and the supporters after 44 years. It's been a crazy season and a crazy last minute.
"Five minutes from the end, I didn't think we'd win this game. But we deserved to win this and deserved to win the title."
Captain Vincent Kompany added: "You want to say it's the best moment of your life but, if I'm honest, please never again this way.
"When Edin scored that goal, it reminded me of so many other moments during the season when we've done this before. There was no reason not to believe.
"It's not sunk in yet. I don't know what happened at the end, it was just a huge mess."
"We are the best and that's why we won," said Mario Balotelli. "We didn't play very well in a few games but the rest of season we played very well so we deserved to win."
Meanwhile, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted he was stunned by the scenes at Eastlands, but congratulated his side's arch rivals for clinching their maiden Premier League crown.
He told BBC Final Score: "I don’t think anyone was expecting that (the finish).
"Everyone expected City to win, they had to do it against 10 men for half an hour and they had five minutes of added time too.
"I congratulate City on winning the league, it's not an easy week to win it. Anyone who wins it deserves it."
The Scot then revealed it was the reaction of the fans on Wearside which told him and his players that the title had been snatched from their grasp.
Ferguson said: "I don't think the players actually knew (what happened), the reaction of the fans told them.
"I didn't know either until the Sunderland fans started cheering, then I knew we were in trouble."
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| The Manchester City team celebrate winning the Premier League title Photo: Reuters |
City opened the scoring against Queens Park Rangers on 39 minutes when Pablo Zabaleta's raid into the box down the right culminated in an angled drive that somehow beat Paddy Kenny.
The visitors drew level within three minutes of the break as when Joleon Lescott's awful error allowed Djibril Cissé through and the striker rifled past Joe Hart with a fine first-time finish.
It seemed that Joey Barton's red card with 35 minutes left to play would change the complexion of the game, after the famously volatile midfielder elbowed Carlos Tévez.
Barton off in disgrace but his QPR team-mates dumbfounded the hosts with a lethal counterattack on 66 minutes, ending in Jamie Mackie nodding powerfully home for an unlikely lead.
With Manchester United winning 1-0 at Sunderland courtesy of Wayne Rooney's first-half goal, it all looked to be in vain as the game entered five minutes of stoppage time.
Edin Džeko's 92nd minute header changed that, as the substitute headed in from a corner to give fresh hope.
Sergio Agüero then wrote his name into City's history books when he fired in with just a minute of stoppage time remaining to send the Etihad faifhful into ecstasy.
"It was incredible - they deserved this," City boss Roberto Mancini told Sky Sports. "To win it like this is incredible. I don't think I've ever seen a finale like this.
"It's fantastic for the club and the supporters after 44 years. It's been a crazy season and a crazy last minute.
"Five minutes from the end, I didn't think we'd win this game. But we deserved to win this and deserved to win the title."
Captain Vincent Kompany added: "You want to say it's the best moment of your life but, if I'm honest, please never again this way.
"When Edin scored that goal, it reminded me of so many other moments during the season when we've done this before. There was no reason not to believe.
"It's not sunk in yet. I don't know what happened at the end, it was just a huge mess."
"We are the best and that's why we won," said Mario Balotelli. "We didn't play very well in a few games but the rest of season we played very well so we deserved to win."
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| Manchester United players look dejected as the crowd react to the winning goal at Manchester City Photo: Getty Images |
Meanwhile, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted he was stunned by the scenes at Eastlands, but congratulated his side's arch rivals for clinching their maiden Premier League crown.
He told BBC Final Score: "I don’t think anyone was expecting that (the finish).
"Everyone expected City to win, they had to do it against 10 men for half an hour and they had five minutes of added time too.
"I congratulate City on winning the league, it's not an easy week to win it. Anyone who wins it deserves it."
The Scot then revealed it was the reaction of the fans on Wearside which told him and his players that the title had been snatched from their grasp.
Ferguson said: "I don't think the players actually knew (what happened), the reaction of the fans told them.
"I didn't know either until the Sunderland fans started cheering, then I knew we were in trouble."
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