On this day 13 May 2012 (Exactly 8 years ago today) Manchester City scored twice in stoppage time to be crowned champions for the first time in 44 years as they beat Queen’s Park Rangers to win the Premier League on goal difference from Manchester United.
In scenes of near bedlam, City looked to be suffering a dramatic collapse as QPR – safe after Stoke City drew with Bolton – held on to an unlikely advantage with United leading at Sunderland.
With some City fans already leaving the stadium in tears, Edin Dzeko equalised in the second of five minutes of stoppage time before Sergio Aguero scored the goal that won the title.
City’s players and supporters travelled from one end of the emotional scale to the other in those vital seconds, providing a truly remarkable piece of football theatre and the most dramatic conclusion to a season in Premier League history.
Roberto Mancini’s side needed victory to clinch the prize that has eluded them since 1968 and took the lead through Pablo Zabaleta shortly before the interval.
Djibril Cisse levelled for QPR soon after the restart before the visitors lost Joey Barton when he was shown a red card against his former club following a clash with Carlos Tevez.
QPR shrugged off their numerical disadvantage to reduce the Etihad to stunned silence when Jamie Mackie gave them the lead with a far-post header in the 66th minute.
City set up permanent camp in QPR territory but appeared condemned to their worst nightmare of losing the title to arch rivals United in the most painful circumstances as keeper Paddy Kenny rode his luck to produce a string of saves to ensure they held firm in the face of an onslaught.
Then, as the clock started to tick into those added minutes and United were in sight of a 20th title, City and their supporters were transported from the depths of despondency to the highest high in the space of two minutes.
Dzeko rose to head the equaliser before Argentine Aguero showed great clarity of thought and composure amid the mayhem to drive into the area and beat Kenny with a powerful low finish.
The Etihad was a sky-blue explosion of joy and relief in an outpouring of 44 years of frustration as Aguero wheeled his shirt above his head in celebration and Mancini, who cut an increasingly frantic figure as time ran out, raced on to the pitch – accompanied by backroom staff including Brian Kidd and David Platt – 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 had 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.
Elsewhere;
On this day 13 May 2018 (Exactly 2 years ago today) Manchester City ended the EPL season with a 1-0 win at Southampton having smashed 11 Premier League records including biggest title winning margin (19 points) and most points (100)
On this day 13 May 2018 (Exactly 2 years ago today) Liverpool’s Egyptian soccer forward Mohamed Salah scored in a 4-0 win against Brighton to set the EPL goal scoring record (32) for a 38-game season
On this day 13 May 2018 (Exactly 2 years ago today) Arsène Wenger guided Arsenal to a 1-0 win at Huddersfield in his final game as Gunners manager after 22 years in charge
On this day 13 May 1984 (Exactly 36 years ago today) Dutch footballer Johan Cruyff played his last competitive and Eredivisie match with a goal against PEC Zwolle.
On this day 13 May 1987 (Exactly 30 years ago today) Ajax won the 27th European Cup Winner’s Cup against Lokomotive Leipzig 1-0 of East Germany at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece. The lone goal was scored by Marco Van Basten in the 20th minute.
On this day 13 May 1998 (Exactly 18 years ago) Chelsea won the 38th European Cup Winner’s Cup against Stuttgart of Germany 1-0 at the Resunda stadium in Stockholm, Sweden.
Chelsea made its first substitution in the 71st minute, which saw Tore Andre Flo being replaced by Gianfranco Zola. He made an effect immediately, picking up the ball after a well-timed pass by Dennis Wise, and finishing with a half volley in the penalty box, past Stuttgart goalkeeper Franz Wohlfahrt, which found its way straight in the top right corner.
On this day 13 May 1950 (Exactly 70 years ago today) First ever race of the Formula 1 World Drivers Championship was run at Silverstone, England and won by Giuseppe Farina of Italy, with teammates Luigi Fagioli and Reg Parnell, completing an Alfa Romeo 1-2-3 finish.
By George “Alan Green” Mahamah
