City wins English title for first time in 44 years

In the final moments of the Premier Leagues most dramatic season yet, Manchester City had just enough time to produce one final, stunning twist.With the clubs title hopes fading by the second, with fans anxiously tearing at their hair in the stands as a stubborn Queens Park Rangers clung to a surprising 2-1 lead after 90 minutes, City threw all of its attacking might forward to secure one of English footballs greatest comebacks.Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero both scored in extra time to clinch a 3-2 victory that secured the clubs first league title since 1968, finishing ahead of crosstown rival Manchester United on goal difference.Its a crazy finish for a crazy season, City manager Roberto Mancini said. Ive never seen a final like this.No one had.After a season where the balance of the title race shifted back and forth between the Manchester clubs numerous times, City looked to have thrown it all away by letting 10-man QPR rally from a goal down to take the lead in the second half, while United completed a 1-0 win at Sunderland.But Dzeko headed in an equalizer in the second minute of stoppage time to give the City fans hope, and Aguero then clinched the title when he slalomed through the QPR blasted the ball into the net. As Mancini raised his hands and ran along the touchline, Aguero the son-in-law of Diego Maradona tore his shirt off in jubilation before he was mobbed by his teammates.He was crying on the floor, City captain Vincent Kompany said. All the guys were pouring their eyes out. You dont see strong personalities like that showing their emotion so often.Moments earlier, United had completed its victory at Sunderland and were lingering on the northeast pitch ready to start celebrating title No. 20, waiting for the final result of the City game.Instead, a party 44 years in the making burst into life back in the blue half of Manchester as fans flooded the City pitch and exploded blue smoke canisters.Miracles do happen in Manchester, Kompany said. This time its on this side of the road.Now United on the other side of the road will have to live with the fact that the club once dismissed by manager Alex Ferguson as a noisy neighbor is now a serious threat to its supremacy.United had won 19 titles since City last won the English championship for just the second time in 1968. City has since had to climb back into the Premier League from the depths of the third tier in 1999, but became a credible title challenger after a takeover by Abu Dhabis Sheikh Mansour, who has invested more than $1 billion into the club over three years hoping to build a powerhouse.It was really important to start winning this championship, City manager Roberto Mancini said. Manchester City can have a big future now.The two Manchester rivals have traded places atop the standings all season, but City had to overturn an eight-point lead United held five weeks ago to finish on top.We didnt deserve to lose, we had a lot of chances and we deserved to win the game and championship, Mancini said. Its fantastic for the club and the supporters after 44 years.It was the first time the English title was decided in such dramatic circumstances since 1989, when Arsenal and Liverpool finished level on points and had the same goal difference, and the Gunners won the title on total goals.