FOOTBALL
Man City are Champions
Manchester City scored twice in stoppage time to be crowned champions for the first time in 44 years by beating Queens Park Rangers to win the Premier League on goal difference amid almost unbearable drama.
City's hopes of claiming the title looked to be slipping away as QPR - safe after Stoke City drew with Bolton - held on desperately to an unlikely lead and Manchester United led at Sunderland.
City, needing three points to clinch the prize, led through Pablo Zabaleta at half-time but Djibril Cisse levelled for QPR just after the break.
QPR lost Joey Barton after he was shown a red card following a clash with Carlos Tevez but then stunned the Etihad Stadium into silence as Jamie Mackie headed them in front.
City set up permanent camp in QPR's half but looked to be condemned to misery as QPR keeper Paddy Kenny produced a string of saves to ensure Mark Hughes' side held firm.
Then, as the clock ticked into five minutes of additional time, City and their supporters were transported from the depths of despondency to the highest high in the space of moments.
Substitute Edin Dzeko headed an equaliser two minutes into the extra period and then - in a stadium almost bordering on hysteria - Sergio Aguero drove into the penalty area and flashed a finish past Kenny.
The Etihad Stadium was an explosion of joy and relief as 44 years of frustration poured out, Aguero wheeling his shirt about his head in celebration and manager Roberto Mancini, who had cut an increasingly frantic figure, racing around on the turf in ecstasy.
As Mike Dean's final whistle blew, the reality dawned on City as they capped a run of form that has seen them overturn United's eight-point advantage in the space of five weeks.
And for supporters who have suffered watching the successes of neighbours United under Sir Alex Ferguson, this was the perfect moment of redemption.
The atmosphere was a mixture of the tense and triumphal as the teams came out to a torrent of golden ticker tape raining down from the stands.
QPR's intentions soon became clear as City ran into massed ranks of resistance and the early celebratory mood became tense as Mancini's side struggled to fashion clear-cut chances.
The breakthrough finally came six minutes before half-time. Yaya Toure had been struggling for some time with a hamstring injury, but he was able to play in Zabaleta and his shot squirmed through the hands of QPR keeper Kenny and in off the far post.
QPR were level shortly after the restart when Cisse took advantage of Joleon Lescott's poor header to beat Hart - but they were then plunged even further into a rearguard action when Barton was sent off.
He will claim he was provoked by Tevez, but he can have no complaints as he raised his arm to the Argentine and then kicked his fellow countryman Aguero after he received the red card.
QPR lifted the siege in stunning fashion when Mackie stole in at the far post to head them in front and all City's efforts were thwarted as Kenny saved well from David Silva, Aguero and Dzeko among others.
It looked like the day that had started for City with such anticipation and expectation was going to end in despair - then came the finale and the goals from Dzeko and Aguero that will live forever in the memories of every City fan who witnessed them.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (3) & SUBSTITUTIONS (5)
Manchester City
- 25 Hart
- 04 Kompany
- 05 Zabaleta
- 06 Lescott
- 22 Clichy
- 18 Barry (Dzeko - 69' )
- 19 Nasri
- 21 Silva
- 42 Y Toure (De Jong - 44' )
- 16 Aguero Booked
- 32 Tevez (Balotelli - 75' )
Substitutes
- 30 Pantilimon
- 02 Richards
- 13 Kolarov
- 07 Milner
- 34 De Jong
- 10 Dzeko
- 45 Balotelli
Queens Park Rangers
- 01 Kenny
- 03 Hill
- 34 Taiwo
- 35 Ferdinand
- 42 Onuoha
- 04 Derry
- 17 Barton Dismissed
- 32 Wright-Phillips
- 12 Mackie
- 23 Cisse (Traore - 59' )
- 52 Zamora (Bothroyd - 76' Booked )
Substitutes
- 24 Cerny
- 06 Gabbidon
- 13 Traore
- 07 Taarabt
- 14 Buzsaky
- 09 Campbell
- 10 Bothroyd
Ref: Dean
Att: 48,000
Live Text Commentary
90:00+7:47Full time
Full TimeThe referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00+4:55Booking
BookingBooking for Sergio Aguero.
90:00+3:20
Assist on the goal came from Mario Balotelli.
90:00+3:20Goal scored
Goal - Sergio Aguero - Man City 3 - 2 QPRA goal is scored by Sergio Aguero from deep inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Man City 3-2 QPR.
90:00+1:15
Assist on the goal came from David Silva.
90:00+1:15Goal scored
Goal - Edin Dzeko - Man City 2 - 2 QPREdin Dzeko grabs a headed goal from deep inside the penalty area. Man City 2-2 QPR.
90:00+1:00
Corner taken by David Silva from the right by-line,
90:00+0:33
Corner taken right-footed by Samir Nasri from the left by-line, save by Patrick Kenny.
89:56
Corner taken by David Silva, Mario Balotelli takes a shot. Save by Patrick Kenny.
89:30
Inswinging corner taken by Samir Nasri from the left by-line, Taye Taiwo makes a clearance.
89:08
Mario Balotelli takes a shot. Short corner taken by David Silva.
86:32
Corner taken by David Silva.
84:06
Edin Dzeko takes a shot. Save made by Patrick Kenny.
83:50
Mario Balotelli takes a shot.
83:06
Foul by Shaun Wright-Phillips on Gael Clichy, free kick awarded. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Mario Balotelli, blocked by Shaun Wright-Phillips.
82:50
Corner taken left-footed by David Silva, clearance made by Taye Taiwo.
82:31
Edin Dzeko produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand post.
79:20
Mario Balotelli takes a shot. Patrick Kenny gets a block in.
77:49
Edin Dzeko takes a shot. Patrick Kenny makes a save.
77:31
Corner taken left-footed by David Silva from the left by-line, Armand Traore manages to make a clearance.
77:00
Free kick crossed left-footed by David Silva, Clint Hill makes a clearance.
77:00Booking
BookingJay Bothroyd is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
76:40
Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mario Balotelli by Jay Bothroyd.
74:50Substitution
SubstitutionBobby Zamora leaves the field to be replaced by Jay Bothroyd.
74:50Substitution
SubstitutionMario Balotelli joins the action as a substitute, replacing Carlos Tevez.
74:50
Samir Nasri produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.
73:06
Carlos Tevez has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.
72:02
Pablo Zabaleta takes a shot. Nedum Onuoha gets a block in.
71:58
Inswinging corner taken by David Silva.
71:42
Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Carlos Tevez from the left by-line, save by Patrick Kenny.
71:10
Inswinging corner taken by David Silva from the right by-line, Carlos Tevez takes a shot. Save made by Patrick Kenny.
68:21
Samir Nasri takes a shot. Blocked by Anton Ferdinand.
69:05
Samir Nasri takes a shot. Blocked by Anton Ferdinand. Corner taken by Samir Nasri, clearance by Anton Ferdinand.
68:17Substitution
SubstitutionGareth Barry goes off and Edin Dzeko comes on.
67:12
David Silva has an effort at goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.
66:54
Nigel De Jong takes a shot. Anton Ferdinand gets a block in.
65:08
Armand Traore provided the assist for the goal.
65:08Goal scored
Goal - Jamie Mackie - Man City 1 - 2 QPRJamie Mackie finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Man City 1-2 QPR.
60:18
The assistant referee signals for offside against Sergio Aguero. Patrick Kenny restarts play with the free kick.
59:42
Carlos Tevez takes a shot. Save by Patrick Kenny. Sergio Aguero takes a shot. Save by Patrick Kenny.
58:56
Corner taken left-footed by David Silva. Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Carlos Tevez, clearance made by Bobby Zamora. Short corner taken by Carlos Tevez.
58:27Substitution
SubstitutionArmand Traore is brought on as a substitute for Djibril Cisse.
58:17
Carlos Tevez takes a shot.
57:45
Samir Nasri takes a shot. Save by Patrick Kenny.
54:42
Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Carlos Tevez.
54:42Dismissal
DismissalJoey Barton is sent off by the referee.
53:47
Foul by Joey Barton on Carlos Tevez, free kick awarded.
51:10
Nigel De Jong takes a shot.
50:29
Corner taken left-footed by David Silva, Sergio Aguero produces a right-footed shot from close range which goes wide of the right-hand post.
49:32
Carlos Tevez takes a shot. Patrick Kenny makes a save.
47:33
Shaun Wright-Phillips provided the assist for the goal.
47:33Goal scored
Goal - Djibril Cisse - Man City 1 - 1 QPRGoal scored by Djibril Cisse from just outside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Man City 1-1 QPR.
45:33
Sergio Aguero takes a shot. Save by Patrick Kenny. Corner taken by Samir Nasri from the left by-line played to the near post, Bobby Zamora makes a clearance.
46:26
Free kick awarded for a foul by Joey Barton on Nigel De Jong. Shot comes in from Samir Nasri from the free kick.
45:33
Sergio Aguero takes a shot. Save by Patrick Kenny. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Samir Nasri played to the near post, clearance made by Bobby Zamora.
45:01
The referee gets the second half underway.
45:00+3:05Half time
Half TimeThe half-time whistle blows.
43:19Substitution
SubstitutionGnegneri Toure Yaya goes off and Nigel De Jong comes on.
43:19Substitution
Substitution(Man City) makes a substitution, with Nigel De Jong coming on for Gnegneri Toure Yaya.
43:19
Sergio Aguero takes a shot. Save by Patrick Kenny.
38:39
Gnegneri Toure Yaya provided the assist for the goal.
38:39Goal scored
Goal - Pablo Zabaleta - Man City 1 - 0 QPRA goal is scored by Pablo Zabaleta from inside the box to the top left corner of the goal. Man City 1-0 QPR.
38:06
Foul by Bobby Zamora on David Silva, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Vincent Kompany.
32:43
David Silva has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
24:47
Shaun Wright-Phillips is penalised for a handball. David Silva has an effort direct from the free kick.
23:46
Djibril Cisse takes a shot. Save by Joe Hart.
22:36
Gareth Barry gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Djibril Cisse. Free kick taken by Taye Taiwo.
21:58
Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Shaun Wright-Phillips by Gareth Barry. Patrick Kenny restarts play with the free kick.
18:21
Foul by Gareth Barry on Joey Barton, free kick awarded. Patrick Kenny takes the free kick.
16:23
The official flags Jamie Mackie offside. Joe Hart restarts play with the free kick.
15:26
David Silva takes a shot. Save made by Patrick Kenny.
10:45
Samir Nasri produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.
8:55
Jamie Mackie gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gnegneri Toure Yaya. Indirect free kick taken by Gareth Barry.
6:27
Samir Nasri takes a short corner.
5:11
Shot from just outside the area by Gnegneri Toure Yaya misses to the right of the target.
3:43
Pablo Zabaleta gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Shaun Wright-Phillips. Indirect free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.
2:48
Corner taken by David Silva, Bobby Zamora makes a clearance.
0:00
The game gets underway.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association
