[caption id="attachment_71647" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Edin Dzeko equalized for City. "]
Manchester City beat Queens Park Rangers 3-2 on Sunday to win the English Premier League for the first time, but for long periods on Sunday afternoon it looked like City’s rivals Manchester United would snatch the title from their grasp. QPR defended stoutly at the Etihad Stadium and it was 39 minutes before former Irish international goalkeeper Paddy Kenny fumbled Zabaleta’s shot to allow City go ahead. However, in the second half QPR, who had bad boy Joey Barton sent off, raced into a 2-1 lead with goals from Cisse and Mackie. With time running out it looked very much like United, who meanwhile were winning 1-0 at Sunderland, would snatch the title from their Mancunian neighbours. But a goal by Dzeko two minutes into stoppage time brought City level and four minutes into the five minutes of stoppage time Aguero scored the winner. The Argentinean’s father-in-law Diego Maradona was no doubt as happy as the City fans on Sunday evening. Both Manchester clubs finished with 88 points, but City won thanks to their superior goal difference. Wayne Rooney got United’s winner at Sunderland and the United players, who thought they had won the title, were devastated as they trooped off at the Stadium of Light. Meanwhile back in Manchester, City celebrated their first League success since they won the old first division in 1968.
Arsenal beat West Brom 3-2 at the Hawthorns to secure third place and Champions League football next season and Spurs finished fourth after their 2-0 win over Fulham at White Hart Lane. As of now Spurs will be in the Champions League next season, but if Chelsea win the Champions League Final on Saturday then Spurs will have to drop down to the Europa League, as only four English clubs can start the Champions League.
Elsewhere Irish striker Jonathan Walters scored twice for Stoke as they beat Bolton Wanderers 2-2 which means that Bolton are relegated along with Blackburn and Wolves. Shane Long was on target for West Brom and John O’Shea limped off after aggravating an old calf injury before half time in Sunderland’s defeat to Man United. Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill said that there could be a doubt about O’Shea for the Euro 2012 finals, but we should have an update later in the week.
In Scotland Celtic, who clinched the League title five weeks ago, were presented with the SPL trophy after their 5-0 win over Hearts. Rangers, who were deducted ten points after going into administration earlier in the season, beat St Johnstone 4-0, but finished 20 points behind Celtic in second place. Meanwhile Rangers’ future seems secure after former Sheffield United CEO Charles Green had his unconditional offer accepted by the Gers administrators. Green’s backers are believed to include former Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd.
At home in Ireland, Sligo Rovers beat Shamrock Rovers 3-0 at the Showgrounds on Saturday to go six points clear at the top of the Airtricity Premier League. And Crusaders won the All-Ireland Setanta Cup for the first time. After a 2-2 draw with Derry City at the Oval, Belfast, the Belfast club won 5-4 on penalties.
