Man Utd 1 Man City 2

SET PHASERS TO KUN ... sub Sergio Aguero crashes in City's winner to silence Old Trafford

By NEIL CUSTIS

SERGIO AGUERO will forever live in the hearts of the Manchester City faithful.

Last night just provided another reason why.
That amazing Agueroooooooo moment in the final seconds of last season produced the most dramatic climax of any campaign.
It brought a first title to the blue half of Manchester in 44 years and at the expense of their bitterest rivals.
The pride felt from that moment has been dented by United’s relentless pursuit of regaining the crown this season.
But last night, in another breathtaking moment of skill from the little Argentine, it was briefly restored as his 78th-minute goal decided this derby.
There were similarities to that winner against QPR last May too in the way he nipped the ball away from all around him, kept his composure under immense pressure and finished.

DEAD END ... Danny Welbeck dribbles straight into Gael Clichy during the frantic early stages at Old Trafford

He had only been on the pitch seven minutes when he pounced after coming on as a substitute for Samir Nasri.
Picking up a pass from Yaya Toure, Aguero darted away from Danny Welbeck on an angled run.
Next he evaded Rio Ferdinand’s outstretched foot before his momentum took him away from Phil Jones.
Even a little push from Welbeck was not enough to put Aguero off as he kept his balance before firing an unstoppable shot into the near-top corner.
It meant a third league derby win in four, a second straight victory here at United’s home and some recompense for their last-gasp defeat at The Etihad earlier this season.
But only their most optimistic fan, still giddy from last night’s high, would suggest it will make any difference to the destination of the title.

WELCOME BACK ... Wayne Rooney is booked by ref Mike Dean on his return from a groin injury

Yes, United surrendered a eight-point lead with six games to go last season but not 12 with just seven left.
No, the hard work has already been done as far as United are concerned.
But a season that offered so much is staggering to an end. As Ferguson himself said in his programme notes in summing up this campaign: ‘For me it’s something of a curate’s egg, part bad but with some redeeming features’.
In a month a possible Treble is down to a single but still you cannot ignore an incredible league run that came to a halt last night.
This was their first defeat in 19 dating back to a loss at Norwich in November.
Their 25 wins from 30 league games leading up to last night is a Premier League record and there is still every chance the title will be wrapped up in a fortnight here at home to Aston Villa.

NAS TO SEE YOU ... Samir Nasri greets James Milner after breaking the deadlock

For City a season that has brought no little pain could have an uplifting end with an FA Cup semi-final coming up on Sunday against Chelsea.
Their boss Roberto Mancini claimed there was no way 15 points represented the gap between City and United. Last night proved that right at least.
The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in the first period came in its final minute when a Robin van Persie header found Rafael, whose scooped shot hit the angle.
The opening to the second half was thunderous as City took a 51st-minute lead.
It was a mistake by Ryan Giggs that lead to the goal as well. There was no danger when he tried a clever backheel but it was cut out by Gareth Barry, who fed Samir Nasri.

LATE SERG ... Sergio Aguero celebrates his late piece of magic in the Manchester derby

Nasri took control of the ball and teed up Milner, whose powerful effort deflected off the sliding Phil Jones and past De Gea into the bottom left-hand corner.
Jones could not be blamed but he helped bring the teams level on 58 minutes.
Van Persie fired over a vicious inswinging free-kick from the right which Joe Hart failed to reach.
Jones made a hash of his header but it deflected in off Vincent Kompany.
Both sides wanted the winner, Mancini knew he had the man who could get it.
On came Aguero, in went the stunning winner.
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
STAR MAN - VINCENT KOMPANY
MAN UTD: De Gea 6, Rafael 6, Evra 6, Ferdinand 7, Jones 7, Carrick 7, Giggs 5, Young 5, Welbeck 5, Rooney 6, Van Persie 6. Subs:
Valencia (Welbeck) 5, Hernandez (Rooney) 5, Kagawa (Young) 5. Not used: Lindegaard, Nani, Cleverley, Buttner. Booked: Rafael, Rooney, Valencia.
MAN CITY: Hart 5, Zabaleta 6, Clichy 6, Kompany 8, Nastasic 7, Barry 6, Milner 8, Toure 6, Nasri 6, Silva 7, Tevez 7. Subs: Aguero (Nasri) 8,
Lescott (Silva) 5, Garcia (Tevez) 5. Not used: Pantilimon, Kolarov, K Toure, Dzeko. Booked: Kompany, Zabaleta, Barry, Silva, Tevez.