BY far the most dramatic football match I have ever seen live was…
MANCHESTER CITY 3, QUEENS PARK RANGERS 2
Sunday 13th May 2012
Barclays Premier League
QUITE simply, this will be remembered forever as the most breath-taking sports betting fixture in the entire history of the Premier League!
A crucial final denouement of the 2011/12 season began with the two Manchester clubs as joint leaders on 86 points.
But superior goal difference meant Manchester City would definitely be crowned champions so long as they equalled or bettered neighbours Manchester United’s result at Sunderland.
Meanwhile, Queens Park Rangers were 17th - one place and two points above the relegation places. The R’s could be caught by third bottom Bolton Wanderers, who were visiting Stoke City.
I can remember every second of my day. It started when I got on the train at Watford Junction bound for Manchester Piccadilly station.
The carriages were packed full of QPR fans making the journey plus a sprinkling of London-based City fans. With absolutely no seats available, I ended up sitting in a luggage rack for the whole journey!
On arrival at Piccadilly, I took a cab to the Etihad Stadium and enjoyed pre-match lunch in the press room. All the assembled journalists seemed to be talking about Manchester City winning the League rather than QPR’s possible survival.
In front of a sell-out crowd of 48,000, Rangers put up a brave defensive performance yet trailed 1-0 when Pablo Zabaleta’s 39th minute shot slipped past goalkeeper Paddy Kenny. Elsewhere, Bolton were leading 2-1 against Stoke so QPR had one foot in the Championship at half-time.
But the second half in Manchester was simply incredible! Rangers equalised on 47 through Djibril Cisse, who pounced on a mistake by Joleon Lescott to rattle home.
The drama continued as R’s captain Joey Barton was sent off eight minutes later for an altercation with Carlos Tevez and there were some unsightly interchanges as he left the field.
Then against all the odds, 10 man QPR broke away to defy the football odds and score a sensational goal in the 65th minute.
Armand Traore surged down the left hand side and crossed for Jamie Mackie. The Scottish international’s diving header exploded into the net and prompted unprecedented scenes of wild jubilation amidst 3,000 animated Hoops fans directly behind the goal.
Manchester City seemed to run out of ideas after that, with a number of shots and crosses not finding their intended destination.
Indeed, the improbable score at 90 minutes was City 1 QPR 2 although five minutes injury time was added on. Many home fans dejectedly left the stadium on hearing that Manchester United were winning at Sunderland.
However, the ensuing excitement unfolded as follows:
90+1 minutes: Edin Dzeko headed home from a corner for City to make it 2-2.
90+ 2 minutes: News filtered through that Bolton had drawn 2-2 at Stoke so Queens Park Rangers were now safe from relegation. This prompted huge rejoicing in the away section at the Etihad Stadium.
90+4 minutes: Just as the final scoreline of Sunderland 0 Manchester United 1 was confirmed, a scramble in the box saw Sergio Aguero sensationally fire City’s winning goal. 3-2.
Martin Tyler’s commentary on Sky TV encapsulated the moment…
“AGG…WARE…OHHH…I swear you’ll never see anything like this again…So watch it…Drink it in…STUPENDOUS!”
When the final whistle sounded seconds later, there was a unique scenario of both sets of fans celebrating joyously. Manchester City had won the League title for the first time in 44 years and Rangers had avoided dropping out of the top flight.
I waited behind to watch the Premier League trophy being presented. And before I left, the QPR players presented me with a signed shirt which I have since had framed.
Outside afterwards, it was absolute chaos. No chance whatsoever of getting a cab so I walked the one and a half miles back to Piccadilly.
And I lost count of the number of total strangers who came up and hugged me en route. Everyone was partying on the streets – City and QPR supporters alike!
Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Nasri, Yaya Toure (sub: De Jong 44 mins), Barry (sub: Dzeko 69 mins), Silva, Tevez (sub: Balotelli 75 mins), Aguero. Subs not used: Pantilimon, Richards, Milner, Kolarov.
QPR: Kenny, Onuoha, Ferdinand, Hill, Taiwo, Wright-Phillips, Barton, Derry, Mackie, Cisse (sub: Traore 59 mins), Zamora (sub: Bothroyd 76 mins). Subs not used: Cerny, Gabbidon, Taarabt, Campbell, Buzsaky.
Attendance: 48,000.
*Credit for the main photo in this article belongs to Alamy*
