City Lift the Title in Dramatic style

Manchester City scored twice in stoppage time to be crowned champions for the first time in 44 years by beating Queens Park Rangers to win the Premier League on goal difference amid almost unbearable drama.
City's hopes of claiming the title looked to slipping away as QPR - already safe after Stoke City drew with Bolton - held on desperately to an unlikely lead and Manchester United led at Sunderland.City, needing three points to clinch the prize, led through Pablo Zabaleta at half-time but Djibril Cisse levelled for QPR just after the break.QPR lost Joey Barton after he was shown a red card following a clash with Carlos Tevez but then stunned the Etihad Stadium into silence as Jamie Mackie headed them in front.City set up permanent camp in QPR's half but looked to be condemned to misery as QPR keeper Paddy Kenny produced a string of saves to ensure Mark Hughes' side held firm.Then, as the clock ticked into five minutes of additional time, City and their supporters were transported from the depths of despondency the highest high in the space of moments.Substitute Edin Dzeko headed an equaliser two minutes into the extra period and then - in a stadium almost bordering on hysteria - Sergio Aguero drove into the penalty area and flashed a finish past Kenny.The Etihad Stadium was an explosion of joy and relief as 44 years of frustration poured out, Aguero wheeling his shirt about his head in celebration and manager Roberto Mancini, who had cut an increasingly frantic figure, racing around on the turf 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 have 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.

Aguero Eliminates Gunners

Sergio Aguero came off the bench to send Manchester City into the League Cup semifinals with a 1-0 win over Arsenal . The Argentina striker netted his 12th goal of the season when he settled the tie with seven minutes remaining, finishing off a swift counter-attack which started in City's own penalty area. Arsene Wenger's Arsenal, finalists last season, enjoyed the better chances before Aguero struck and forced saves from Costel Pantilimon before their nine-match unbeaten run was ended. Between the two clubs, only one player remained from their starting line-ups at the weekend, with both managers choosing to rotate their squad and give fringe players a chance. That one player was Samir Nasri, with the France midfielder receiving jeers from home fans following his move from Arsenal to City at the start of the season. Nasri drifted in and out of the action during an open quarterfinal where both teams appeared intent on attacking. City were the first to create an opening, with England winger Adam Johnson firing just over the crossbar from 25 yards with 10 minutes on the clock. Arsenal went close a minute later after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain started an attack on the right flank. The ball was worked to Francis Coquelin and his low cross found Park Ju-Young six yards from goal. Park's finish appeared to be heading for the corner of the net but City goalkeeper Pantilimon flung out his hand as he dived to his left and tipped around the post. Pantilimon was called into action again when Oxlade-Chamberlain exchanged passes with Marouane Chamakh and drove towards the top corner from the edge of the area, with the Romanian youngster deflecting the ball over. There was confusion just after the half-hour mark when City wanted to make a substitution. Nasri appeared to be heading towards the touchline and was booed by supporters, but it was Aleksandar Kolarov who made way for Aguero. Kolarov also appeared to be upset with the substitution as he took his seat on the bench. Both teams went close after the interval, firstly when Edin Dzeko curled wide of the post with an effort from 25 yards out. The Bosnia striker was also off target with a finish when he met Pablo Zabaleta's cross with a volley. At the other end, Oxlade-Chamberlain cut inside from the right, tricked his marker with a step-over and forced Pantilimon to punch away with his save. Chamakh also went over the bar after being slipped through by Yossi Benayoun, who was captain for the evening. Wenger made his move midway through the second half, replacing Park with Gervinho in an attempt to break the deadlock. But the decisive moment came with seven minutes remaining after Dzeko carried the ball forward from his own penalty area. After threading the ball through for Johnson, the touch back to Aguero was perfect for him to run forward and finish confidently past Lukasz Fabianski.

Manchester City Thrash United at Old Trafford

Manchester City inflicted Manchester United's worst home defeat since February 1955 as they thrashed the champions in ruthless fashion to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League.City were also the victors on that occasion 56 years ago, winning 5-0, but this visit was portrayed as a measure of their progress against the 19-time champions.And Roberto Mancini's men could not have delivered a more emphatic statement as Sir Alex Ferguson's side were humiliated. It was the first time United had conceded six goals at Old Trafford since 1930, when Huddersfield won 6-0 and Newcastle 7-4 within four days of each other.City led just 1-0 at half-time, but the second half was completely one-sided and the eventual margin of victory could have been even more convincing.Mario Balotelli, in the headlines for accidentally setting his house ablaze with fireworks, put City on their way with goals either side of the interval as United struggled to contain the array of attacking talent in front of them.United were reduced to 10 men when Jonny Evans was sent off early in the second half but City's superiority was such that they looked on course for a landmark victory from the moment they took the lead.Sergio Aguero added a third and, even though Darren Fletcher pulled a goal back, this only proved the signal for a late surge by City that brought three more goals and a result that will have sent shockwaves through the Premier League.Substitute Edin Dzeko scrambled in a fourth and the magnificent David Silva ran clear to add another, before the Bosnian striker inflicted the final wound seconds from the end.

Man City 2 - 1 Villarreal

Sergio Aguero's winner in the dying seconds rescued Manchester City as Villarreal threatened to inflict a serious setback on their Champions League ambitions at the Etihad Stadium. Roberto Mancini's side looked set for more frustration after Villarreal belied their poor La Liga form to leave City on the brink of a third game without victory in the group stage. Cani had set the tone for an uncomfortable evening when he gave Villarreal the lead after only four minutes and City's only response was an own goal from Carlos Marchena just before the interval. But deep into stoppage time, and with what turned out to be almost the final kick of the game, substitute Aguero arrived at the far post to turn Pablo Zabaleta's cross past Diego Lopez to give City their first Champions League victory and revive their hopes of reaching the knockout phase.

Match Report: Manchester City 4 Swansea City 0

Sergio Aguero scored two goals and set up another on his debut to help Manchester City beat newcomer Swansea 4-0 Monday and give the Welsh club a harsh welcome to the Premier League. Goalkeeper Michel Vorm had made a string of good saves to help Swansea withstand nearly an hour of relentless pressure from City before Edin Dzeko finally put the host ahead in the 57th. The striker capitalized on Vorm's first inaccuracy, slotting a rebound into the empty net after the goalkeeper failed control Adam Johnson's shot from the right side of the area. Aguero then came on as a substitute and made it 2-0 in the 67th, meeting Micah Richards' cross at the far post for an easy tap-in. The Argentina striker then set up David Silva for the third just three minutes later, and rounded off the scoring with a long-range strike in injury time.

Argentine Aguero completes Manchester City move

Argentina striker Sergio Aguero has already declared himself a Manchester City player as the club prepare to make the deal official today. The 23-year-old, who posed for photographs and signed autographs outside the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, is set to sign a reported five-year contract worth £200,000 a week to finalise his move from Atletico Madrid. After a day of talks at the Etihad Stadium, Aguero retreated to a city centre hotel and then announced on Twitter that the deal was done. "I'm already a City player. Happy to be in this club and this city. Thank you all for the welcome and the reception!" he wrote, although minor details of the deal were still to be completed. His transfer is believed to be costing City in the region of £35million, which was the amount of the buy-out clause written into the contract he only signed with the Spanish side in January. Aguero, the son-in-law of Argentina icon Diego Maradona, appeared to take everything in his stride after flying in from Buenos Aires via Heathrow. After touching down in the north-west, Aguero wrote on Twitter: "Just arrived in Manchester to finalise the details of signing with City. "Everything is going very well! I'll tell you more in a while." Aguero had a medical at a private Manchester hospital and briefly stopped off at the Etihad Stadium before going out again for lunch and returning in the early evening for further discussion. City's previous record buy was Robinho, who arrived from Real Madrid for £32.5million as new owner Sheikh Mansour, a member of Abu Dhabi's ruling family, made a marquee signing to signal his intent just days after taking over in August 2008. The cost of signing Aguero will not be a stumbling block for City, who have spent millions revamping their squad and the area around the stadium with much grander plans to come. With City striker Carlos Tevez adamant he wants to leave to be nearer his wife and two daughters in Argentina, Aguero is seen as the ideal replacement. Younger than his compatriot by four years, the Atletico star has been a prolific goalscorer in Spain's Primera Division and that is why he became one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe. Atletico had resigned themselves to the fact they would lose their prized asset when he announced in May, before departing to play for Argentina in the Copa America, that he wanted to leave. Aguero's preference was to remain in Spain, with city rivals Real seemingly the most likely destination, but Atletico were keen to resist such a move. The offer from City represented a better option for the Madrid side, although Italian club Juventus were also interested.

Mancini hoping to sign three more players

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini says he is looking to bring in two or three quality players to the club, regardless of whether want-away skipper Carlos Tevez is sold.

Mancini is believed to be on the verge of making an offer for Sergio Aguero, as the Atletico Madrid front-man is seen as the perfect replacement for his Argentina strike partner. However, the City boss has indicated that he would be willing to bring in Aguero even if Tevez remains at Eastlands.

"I think it is really difficult to buy any players because all the good teams want these players,'' Mancini said on Sky Sports News.

"But I hope that before the game against Manchester United in the Community Shield on August 7 we can have all these players.

"We have two, three targets but it depends. We need to improve because we are at the moment a few players short for competition and we need to have other players.''

For the time being at least, Mancini still has Tevez and the manager is adamant he is still welcome at the club.

"At the moment Carlos is still a City player, like yesterday, like three days ago,'' he said.

"In the future we will see what can happen. But for us Carlos is an important player.

"Carlos wants to leave, wants to come back to Argentina or maybe another country for his family. It is only because of this I think that the club accept to sell Carlos, because I think that we respect his reasons."

Tevez, on holiday after Argentina were knocked out of the Copa America, is said not to be "overly worried" by the collapse of his move to Corinthians.

Reports in Italy have suggested the striker met with Inter Milan sporting director Marco Branca on Wednesday, while his representative Kia Joorabchian is confident new bids will come in for the striker.