WATCH: Man United Puts Man City's EPL Title On Hold With Stunning Comeback
After suffering a large dose of midweek disappointment in the Champions League vs. Liverpool, Manchester City had more poured on at the hand of its chief rival.
Manchester City blew a 2-0 lead to Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium, falling 3-2 on a day when it could have clinched the Premier League title faster than any other team in history. Paul Pogba was at the center of a bombshell on Friday, when Pep Guardiola claimed his agent, Mino Raiola, had offered the French star to Man City in January. It was Pogba who sparked the comeback, with two goals in two minutes to turn the tide in the second half. Chris Smalling scored the winner in the 69th minute, and United fended off City's late advances to remain alive, at least mathematically, in the title chase. City leads second-place United by 13 points with six matches remaining.
There was controversy early in the fifth minute, when David Silva fired in a cross from the left. Ashley Young slipped to ground while defending it, and City was adamant the cross came off this hand, though no penalty was given.
Silva tried his hand on a blast from distance in the 20th minute for Man City's next best chance, but it flew well wide of David De Gea's goal.
City's other Silva, Bernardo, had a great opportunity in the 21st off an intricate passing sequence, which wound up with him trying to stab home a close-range chance, only for De Gea to come out and block it with his legs.
Manchester City took the lead soon after in the 25th through its captain, Vincent Kompany. The goal came off a corner kick, as Kompany, despite Smalling yanking his jersey from behind, powered home a header to give City a 1-0 lead.
Ilkay Gundogan doubled the advantage five minutes later. The German international worked a perfect combination with Raheem Sterling, taking a turn inside the box and slotting a low finish by De Gea to make it 2-0.
It could have been much worse for United within the next five minutes. On two occasions Sterling got in free behind the back line only to sky his efforts over the bar. Given how the match played out, City surely is left ruing those missed opportunities.
Man City kept the pressure coming as halftime approached. Sterling had another great chance from close range, rolling a shot right at De Gea, while Gundogan got in behind for a free header from in close, only to hit it directly into the goalkeeper's clutches as well.
Manchester United finally threatened Man City's goal early in the second half through Pogba, who lined up a long-range effort but couldn't beat Ederson, who went down to his right to make the clean save.
David Silva and Sterling combined to set up Gundogan for another great chance from in close with some intricate passing, with the goal-scorer just narrowly missing with a deft chip in the 51st minute, grazing the bar.
Just when City fans assumed the title was won, Man United struck back, and in a big way, as Pogba scored two goals in the 53rd and 55th minutes to stun the Etihad faithful. His first came after Alexis Sanchez fired in a cross for Ander Herrera, who chested down into Pogba's path as he streaked toward goal. His second came off a picture-perfect header, with Alexis floating in a ball for Pogba, who got in behind the defense to make it 2-2 in a matter of moments.
Smalling continued the stunning second half in the 69th minute. Off a Man United free kick, Smalling found a pocket of space behind the City back line, and he volleyed home with a first-time finish with his right to make it 3-2.
Man City went to its bench in an attempt to get back into it, with Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero, presumably being rested for the Champions League quarterfinal second leg, coming on. And they nearly made an instant impact, as Aguero was taken down in the box after a set-up from De Bruyne on the counter, with Young perhaps a bit fortunate not to be hit with a penalty for the second time in the match.
Aguero thought he'd scored in the 89th minute, when Leroy Sane teed him up for a point-blank header, only for De Gea to rob him with an acrobatic reflex save. On the ensuing corner, Sterling had another chance from close range ping off the post, and De Gea kicked away the rebound to safety.
Unlike in 2012, when City scored twice in stoppage time to clinch the title on the season's last day, there was no late flurry, putting the trophy lift on hold. The loss was just Man City's second in the league all season.
Here were the lineups for the match:
Man City returns to action in the Champions League on Tuesday at home against Liverpool, where it will look to overturn a massive 3-0 deficit after a disappointing first leg at Anfield. It can win the Premier League title next weekend with a win over Tottenham on Saturday coupled with an improbable West Brom win over Man United.
