There are great football moments, there are title-winning moments, and then there is Sergio Agüero's goal against Queens Park Rangers on 13th May, 2012. Even now, more than a decade later, football supporters of all allegiances can usually remember exactly where they were when they witnessed it. Whether you supported Manchester City, Manchester United or neither club, it was impossible not to be captivated by the drama that unfolded. What followed would become one of the most famous conclusions to a football season ever seen and produce a moment that many still regard as the greatest in Premier League history.
Heading into the final day of the 2011-12 season, Manchester City and Manchester United were level on 86 points. City held a superior goal difference, meaning victory over QPR at the Etihad Stadium would guarantee them the title regardless of United's result against Sunderland. On paper, the equation seemed straightforward. In reality, football had other ideas.
The afternoon began positively enough for Roberto Mancini's side when Pablo Zabaleta gave City the lead. However, the tension inside the stadium gradually increased as events took an unexpected turn. Djibril Cissé equalised for QPR before Jamie Mackie put the visitors 2-1 ahead. Suddenly, a title that had appeared within touching distance was slipping away. As the clock ticked down towards ninety minutes, City supporters were beginning to contemplate another season of watching their neighbours celebrate championship success.
The situation became even more worrying because Manchester United had done their part. Wayne Rooney's goal had secured a 1-0 victory at Sunderland, and with City trailing, Sir Alex Ferguson's side appeared destined to reclaim the title. United's players waited on the Stadium of Light pitch after the final whistle, anticipating confirmation that they had once again been crowned champions of England.
Then came one of the most astonishing finales football has ever witnessed. Deep into stoppage time, David Silva delivered a corner and Edin Džeko rose highest to thunder a header into the net. The goal made it 2-2 and reignited hopes inside the Etihad, but it still wasn't enough. A draw would hand the title to Manchester United. City needed one more goal, and they had very little time left to find it.
Moments later, football history was made. Mario Balotelli, who had endured a difficult afternoon, managed to poke the ball into Sergio Agüero's path. The Argentine drove into the penalty area, skipped past a challenge and smashed an unstoppable shot beyond QPR goalkeeper Paddy Kenny. The stadium erupted. Supporters poured from their seats, players collapsed in celebration and those watching around the world struggled to comprehend what they had just seen. The clock showed 93 minutes and 20 seconds, a timestamp that would become immortal in Manchester City folklore. The phrase "93:20" remains synonymous with one of football's most dramatic moments.
No discussion of the goal is complete without mentioning the commentary that accompanied it. As Agüero's shot hit the net, Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler delivered what is arguably the most famous line in Premier League broadcasting history. His cry of "AGUEROOOOOO!" instantly became part of football culture and remains inseparable from the moment itself. For many supporters, hearing that commentary is enough to transport them straight back to that extraordinary afternoon in Manchester.
What makes the story even more remarkable is what was happening elsewhere. Manchester United's players and supporters thought the title race was over. Their victory at Sunderland seemed sufficient. Yet in the space of a few unforgettable minutes, the championship was snatched away. News of Agüero's goal filtered through, turning jubilation into disbelief. It remains one of the cruellest title defeats in English football history and one of the most dramatic championship triumphs ever recorded.
When the final league table was confirmed, both Manchester clubs had finished on 89 points. City were crowned champions due to their superior goal difference, securing their first league title since 1968 and ending a 44-year wait for domestic glory. The final score of Manchester City 3-2 Queens Park Rangers instantly entered sporting legend, but the result was about more than a single match. It marked the beginning of a new era in English football, one that would see City go on to establish themselves as one of the dominant forces in the game, though the club's multiple successes are now tarnished by off-the-field misdemeanours.
Looking back today, Agüero's winner was more than a goal. It was a moment that encapsulated everything people love about football: hope, despair, tension, relief and unbridled joy, all compressed into a matter of seconds. Few sporting events have delivered such a dramatic twist, and fewer still have remained so vivid in the collective memory. Mention "93:20" to almost any football supporter and they will immediately know the reference. Some goals win matches. Some goals win trophies. Sergio Agüero's goal won a place in football immortality.