POWER SERG ... Aguero's injury-time winner seals the Premier League title for City

MANCHESTER CITY scored twice in stoppage time to snatch the Premier League crown away from neighbours United.

A sensational final day of the season ended in dramatic fashion, with City coming back from 2-1 behind to win their first league title since 1968.

Djibril Cisse and Jamie Mackie had threatened to wreck the hosts' dreams of claiming the championship. 

But with five minutes of stoppage time, Roberto Mancini's men produced the most amazing finish to a season in Premier League history.

First Edin Dzeko nodded City level before Sergio Aguero collected Mario Balotelli's return pass and drove home the goal that crowned City champions. 

Bolton's failure to beat Stoke meant QPR survived anyway, which was the very least their defiant defending deserved in a truly astonishing game. 

WINNERS ... Vincent Kompany lifts the Premier League trophy as his City teammates celebrate

Mancini said: "It was incredible - they deserved this. To win it like this is incredible. I don't think I've ever seen a finale like this. 

"We didn't deserve to lose, we had a lot of chances and we deserved to win the game and championship. 

"It's fantastic for the club and the supporters after 44 years. It's been a crazy season and a crazy last minute."

The Italian added: "Five minutes from the end, I didn't think we'd win this game. But we deserved to win this and deserved to win the title. We were on top for 20 games. 

"I think for us it was really important to start winning this championship, Manchester City can have a big future now."

 
ZABBA DABBA DO ... Pablo Zabaleta opens the scoring for City

City captain Vincent Kompany admitted the dramatic ending was almost too much for him.

He said: "You want to say it's the best moment of your life but, if I'm honest, please never again this way. 

"Even though the first half was really good we just couldn't get through."

But Kompany insists he never lost faith. He added: "I never stopped believing.

"When Edin scored that goal, it reminded me of so many other moments during the season when we've done this before. There was no reason not to believe.

 
EQUALISER ... Djibril Cisse levels the score for QPR

"It's not sunk in yet. I don't know what happened at the end, it was just a huge mess. 

"I'm so happy for the guys because they've given so much this season. 

"We've dreamed of this all our lives and now we're champions. See the fans and how happy they are - unbelievable."

On the face of it, City, having dropped just two points at home all season, had little to worry about from QPR, who had two points in 11 away games and conceded six at Chelsea a fortnight ago.

 
MACK DADDY ... Jamie Mackie heads Rangers in front

But for 38 long minutes, the hosts could not find a way through their opponents' blanket defence. 

Mark Hughes had set his side up to spend long periods without the ball and challenged City to find a gap.

David Silva came closest, driving one shot wide, having a near-post effort saved by Paddy Kenny and another goalbound strike blocked by Barton.

But QPR remained defiant and it needed something a little bit different for City to open their opponents up. Pablo Zabaleta provided it.

In 152 previous appearances for the club, the full-back had managed just three goals with his last effort coming in May 2011.

 
USE YOUR ED ... Dzeko nods in to make the score 2-2 in injury time

With a sense of anxiety gripping the stands as news of their temporary status as number two in the Premier League filtered through, Zabaleta scorched in from the right flank.

He kept advancing after laying a pass off to Silva, who in turn fed Yaya Toure.

It meant he was within striking range when Toure flicked the ball through and let fly with a fierce effort towards the far post.

The Etihad Stadium erupted and suddenly, what was happening at the Stadium of Light did not seem quite so important.

Instead it was events at the Britannia Stadium that were of huge importance as, from being in a position of relative comfort in terms of their own top-flight status, QPR were now hanging over the trapdoor, with the famous fat lady beginning to clear her throat.

 
POWER SERG ... an ecstatic Aguero celebrates his title deciding goal

It meant Hughes, returning to the club that dumped him so unceremoniously in December 2009, knew he could no longer rely on his containment policy, which was both an opportunity for City and a reason to be wary.

And so it proved as Joleon Lescott made a disastrous decision to head Shaun Wright-Phillips' hopeful lofted pass back to Joe Hart. 

Cisse read it and duly smashed a first-time shot into the bottom corner.

Back came all those nerves, although the worry was soon replaced by fury at Joey Barton's antics. 

The one-time City midfielder will receive an automatic suspension for elbowing Carlos Tevez in the face.

But surely there will be an additional sanction for his attack on Aguero, which was deliberate, as he was ushered from the field, the incident sparking a mass confrontation which substitute Mario Balotelli wanted to get involved in.

The drama had only just begun though and when substitute Armand Traore skipped past Zabaleta on a rare foray forward, his far-post cross was perfect for Mackie, who launched himself at the ball with a diving header neither Hart nor Lescott could keep out.

 
JOY ... Roberto Mancini and Carlos Tevez celebrate City's title triumph

Now City had only one course of action open to them.

On came Dzeko, then Balotelli in a frantic attempt to grab a lifeline.

Both came close, Dzeko hitting a post, Balotelli drawing a fine save from Kenny as QPR abandoned any pretext of attacking intent.

It all looked to be in vain as the game entered five minutes of stoppage time.

Even the celebrations at Dzeko's leveller, when there were under four minutes left, were muted. 

But when Aguero scored his 30th - and by far the most important and dramatic  goal of the season 120 seconds later, the roof came off the Etihad Stadium.

Source: The Sun