Roberto Mancini and his Manchester City side today finally put their hands on the Premiership trophy for the first time in 44 years after beating out cross town rivals Manchester United with virtually the last kick of the game.
Going into the last game of the season it could not be closer with City only ahead of United on goal difference as the red side of Manchester looked for their 20th title, seventeen of which came in the new Premiership era.
United traveled to Sunderland, a team the actually lost to when City last raised the trophy with their objectives clear, win and hope for a City slip up. It got off to a good start for United with their in form striker, Wayne Rooney scoring their first and only goal after just twenty minutes. Meanwhile back at the Etihad City were piling on the pressure but failing to break down a resilient QPR side. QPR themselves were in a relegation battle, needing only a tie to secure their Premiership future so the swings during the afternoon would be frequent and emotional.
United were in pole position for the title with the Rooney strike before City's Argentine defender, Pablo Zabaleta went through to score with a shot that had the Rangers keeper thinking he should have done better. With City leading it meant they went back to top spot and even the withdrawal of influential player Yaya Toure did little to dampen the rampant crowd.
Then the second half started and with City seemingly too comfortable a rare mistake from Joleon Lescott allowed Cisse in for the equalizing goal and with it back to the top went United. It went from bad to worse with the visitors taking the lead, despite being a man down after the hot headed Barton was dismissed.
The title was now firmly with United as City piled on the QPR goal in search of victory and in stoppage time, with substitute Edin Dzeko they got a lifeline with a beautiful headed goal. Belief rang out around the stadium as City attacked. Even an equalizing goal from Sunderland would have been met with intense celebration from the City faithful.
Moments after the Dzeko goal though, time was called at the United game and with their victory in the bag it was now clear that if City were to win the title they would have to do it themselves. Five minutes in another Argentine, Sergio Aguero drove on into the penalty area and finished with a shot whose repercussions would be felt all across the World of Football, Manchester had new kings, and they wore sky blue!
Going into the last game of the season it could not be closer with City only ahead of United on goal difference as the red side of Manchester looked for their 20th title, seventeen of which came in the new Premiership era.
United traveled to Sunderland, a team the actually lost to when City last raised the trophy with their objectives clear, win and hope for a City slip up. It got off to a good start for United with their in form striker, Wayne Rooney scoring their first and only goal after just twenty minutes. Meanwhile back at the Etihad City were piling on the pressure but failing to break down a resilient QPR side. QPR themselves were in a relegation battle, needing only a tie to secure their Premiership future so the swings during the afternoon would be frequent and emotional.
United were in pole position for the title with the Rooney strike before City's Argentine defender, Pablo Zabaleta went through to score with a shot that had the Rangers keeper thinking he should have done better. With City leading it meant they went back to top spot and even the withdrawal of influential player Yaya Toure did little to dampen the rampant crowd.
Then the second half started and with City seemingly too comfortable a rare mistake from Joleon Lescott allowed Cisse in for the equalizing goal and with it back to the top went United. It went from bad to worse with the visitors taking the lead, despite being a man down after the hot headed Barton was dismissed.
The title was now firmly with United as City piled on the QPR goal in search of victory and in stoppage time, with substitute Edin Dzeko they got a lifeline with a beautiful headed goal. Belief rang out around the stadium as City attacked. Even an equalizing goal from Sunderland would have been met with intense celebration from the City faithful.
Moments after the Dzeko goal though, time was called at the United game and with their victory in the bag it was now clear that if City were to win the title they would have to do it themselves. Five minutes in another Argentine, Sergio Aguero drove on into the penalty area and finished with a shot whose repercussions would be felt all across the World of Football, Manchester had new kings, and they wore sky blue!
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