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Mancini with his reward |
Manchester City have been crowned champions of England after an unbelievable afternoon of high drama.
Back in August 2011 many pundits backed the title race to be a contest between United and City but no one could have imagined how close that contest would have been.
For years the Premiership has been labelled as predictable and boring and when fans look back at 2012 they'll just see the headline: League Champions Manchester City but the days events, the twists and turns and the knife edge outcome should not be forgotten.
Anyone who tuned into the TV or radio broadcasts will have sat riveted as Football gave us the very best it has to offer. At the start of the day most opinions were clear cut. QPR were woeful away from home and City awesome at the Etihad Stadium. A home win was assured. So with that result sorted we also knew were the league was going. To the Blue half of Manchester. With QPR beaten, it also meant Bolton just needed a result to stay up and consign Rangers to the Championship.
United's part in the story was to mean little having put the title into City's hands with a number of uncharacteristic dropped points with the finishing line in sight.
However, United struck first with Rooney stooping to nod in what ended up being the winner in their game at Sunderland.
City had to wait nearly all of the first half before Zabaleta scored and moved City back into top spot.
With the second half under way, we all waited for the glut of goals that would seal City's destiny. We waited and waited and were shocked when Cisse scored to put United back in the driving seat. Barton was sent off and again, we thought a hiding was coming QPR's way. Then out of nowhere, Mackie scored in the 66th minute with United still in front. This left City needing 2 goals or Sunderland to equalise.
Frantic pressure, attacking substitutions and a fantastic defensive effort from QPR cranked up the pressure and the tension even in living rooms was unbearable. City fans thought "typical" and fell largely silent.
As extra time was announced City looked doomed. To their credit, they continued to attack relentlessly and got their rewards. Dzeko headed home unmarked and the Etihad erupted in rapture.
United's game finished and they found themselves strangely impotent. There was nothing they could do but wait. The ball was quickly retrieved and off City went again. The ball was worked well into the QPR box where Aguero skipped a challenge, didn't go down and finished beautifully into the corner.
Seconds later, the game was over and we were left to witness the strange sight of both teams celebrating wildly with their fans. City as Champions and QPR as survivors. Bolton had lost and been relegated in their place.
44 years of frustration melted away into jubilation and stewards were helpless to stop the City masses from partying on the pitch. The party will go on well into the night.
United have only themselves to blame but should probably feel happy with second place. Their team is largely transitional and lacking quality. Manchester City have played the better football all season and fully deserve their seat at the top table.
No doubt, they will improve the squad again ready for next season and it remains to be seen if they can be matched.
Football has many issues but today, we were reminded why we love the Beautiful Game.| Club | Pld | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| Man City | 38 | 89 |
| Man Utd | 38 | 89 |
| Arsenal | 38 | 70 |
| Tottenham | 38 | 69 |
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