A Matter Of Minutes

It was match day 38, the last match day of the Barclays Premier League 2011/2012 season. Almost every match was important that day because so many things were still undecided before that day. Which teams will be relegated, which teams will be playing in European competitions next season, whether Liverpool will finish below Everton and most importantly, the league champions itself.

The 2 Manchester clubs, United and City, were at the top of the table. Both were on same points before their final matches but Man City were above Man United on goal difference (number of goals scored minus the number of goals conceded). So, there was everything to play for for both teams on the final match day.

Man City had a comparatively easier match as they faced relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers. Man United on the other hand had a slightly difficult team to play against-Sunderland. Honestly, both the opponents can be considered tough as QPR were really going to fight to stay in the Premier League and Sunderland's manager, Martin O'Neil isn't the kind of person who gives up games easily.

Like every other football fan should, I was all ready for the big match day. I really wanted to watch Big Momma 2 which was being aired on HBO at 10 but then decided to wait for it to be aired another time as the timing clashed with the football matches. For the record, all the matches were played at the same time on the final day (as it has been for the past few years) to avoid foul play by teams.

And the match kicked off. I was watching the Man United match although I knew that the result of the Man City match was the one that would determine the premier league champions. If Man City won the match, they would surely win the title as they had a  superior goal difference of 64 over Man United's 56. So basically, we (Man United fans) were hoping for a slip up in the match at the Etihad stadium (Man City's stadium).

Man United were the first one of the two to score. A cross came in from Phil Jones from the left and Wayne Rooney headed the ball into the back of the net. The Sunderland defender who should have cleared the ball away made the wrong move to stop the ball and Rooney took advantage. At that point, Man United fans were still feeling that their hopes were alive as Man City had yet to score.

Then, a few minutes later, the Man United fans became quiet in the Stadium of Light (Sunderland's stadium) as Paulo Zabaleta struck one for Man City (this is how effective technology is in communication). It was good teamwork by Man City's players. The shot was a little lucky to go in as the QPR goalkeeper had deflected the ball a little. And half-time ended with both the Manchester clubs leading 1-0 in their respective matches.

Second half was when the real drama started. Around the 60-something minute mark, the corner where the Man United fans were seated in the Stadium of Light erupted as Djibril Cisse scored the equaliser for QPR against Man City. A few minutes later, we were jumping with joy as QPR scored another goal through a header. All of this was happening despite QPR being reduced to 10 man after Joey Barton (QPR) was sent off.

The 70th minute passed. The 80th minute passed. The 85th minute passed. I couldn't believe that this was happening. Man United, despite all odds stacked against them, were in the run to lift their 20th Premier League title.

It was insane to watch. The pressure of waiting for the clock to tick by was just immense. I couldn't sit while watching. I was punching my own hands and walking around as if in anticipation to the biggest upset in Premier League history if the score was to remain the same.

The 90th minute mark arrived. 3 extra minutes were added for the Man United match and 5 extra minutes were added for the Man City match. We were so so close to clinching our 20th league title which was thought almost impossible prior to this match because nobody predicted that Man City would slip up against a struggling QPR side.

Then in the 91st minute, Man City,s Edin Dzeko scored an equaliser at the Etihad. Man United were still in the running to lift the title as they had more points than Man City at that moment. It was pretty worrying for me as there was still 2 minutes left to play in the Man United match and a slip up by Man United would mean that all their efforts would go to waste.

Man United's match ended with 1-0 as the scoreline in Man United's favour. Our match was over and we just had to wait for the final result from the Etihad. We were actually half celebrating as there were only 2 minutes remaining in the Man City match. But, no one at that time would have ever predicted what would happen next.

Disaster struck. As the Man United match was over, I switched to the channel where the Man City match was aired. Mario Ballotelli had the ball with him at the edge of the penalty box. He slipped a little but managed to pass the ball to Sergio Aguero who was free on his right. And Aguero completed to unthinkable by dribbling past a QPR defender and shot the ball into the QPR net.

I sunk down on the sofa. I told myself, "Oh my God, this can't be happening". I couldn't believe it. It was heartbreak for all Man United fans and players. One moment we were jumping with joy, another staring at one of the most astonishing finishes in the history of the Barclays Premier League.

Man City were totally delighted. Aguero running off while taking off his shirt after scoring the winning goal just proved how important the goal was. Man City fans were crying in joy as they themselves couldn't believe what had happened.

Man City finished as champions. QPR were not relegated as Bolton drew 2-2 against Stoke City and remained in the bottom 3. Liverpool, for all their relief as Man United's title tally remained 19 (Liverpool have 18) had to face the embarrassment of finishing below Everton and in the process accumulated their all time lowest points in a single season.

Everything changed in a matter of minutes. From joy to despair for some and vice versa for many others. And this is the kind of uncertainty that time and time again makes me believe that football is indeed the best game to watch in the world......