For the most incredible sporting drama on Earth, look no further than the English Premier League yesterday afternoon.
Manchester United.... 19 times league champions, second in the table and one game to play
Manchester City.... Not won a league title since 1968 (44 years ago) and top of the table, with one game to play
Queen's Park Rangers (QPR)... must get at least a draw in their final game away at City, to avoid relegation out of the Premiership.
Only "goal difference" (a tie breaker) is between City and United. City's goal difference is superior to United's so they only have to win their final game to be certain of the championship. All they have to do is beat the team with the worst away record in the league. That's all. Just win.
In a league season that started back in August, they are neck and neck at the top of the league after 37 matches. With one to play, the last game is "Winner takes all" in the final showdown.
Both games kick off at the same time
20 minutes played. Manchester United score at Sunderland. Advantage United.
38 minutes. City score at home to QPR. City go back to the top.
Second half sequence:
QPR equalise. 1 - 1. United are back at the top again.
QPR's Joey Barton gets red carded for elbowing City's Carlos Tevez in the face. This causes a delay in the game for which time will be added on at the end of normal time.
QPR score again to go 2 - 1 up. City must now score twice and not concede again if they are to win the title.
Full time at The Stadium of Light. Manchester United have beaten Sunderland 1 - 0, and at that point, are in pole position in the league..... But City are playing additional time because of the delay caused by Barton's red card.... United must wait... and hope....
With less than three minutes of stoppage time remaining, City equalise.... 2 - 2, but this is not enough. United are still top of the table. City must score again.
With less than a minute remaining on the clock, Sergio Aguera breaks through the QPR defence and hammers home the winning goal. 3 - 2 City. Ecstasy for blues fans, hearbreak for Manchester's Reds.
Words alone cannot convey the excitement. I know that late scores are commonplace in American Football, and they happen too in football, but for any team to score twice.... so late... against all the odds.... with so much at stake.... It's just amazing. It was almost heart stopping to watch.
The celebrations as City collected the trophy had to be seen to be believed. City fans have had to suck it up for years, as United won trophy after trophy. The reds have been merciless in their behaviour towards their local neighbours. Now City are the Champions, and by heck, are they letting United know it..
The blue half of Manchester is waking up with an unbelievable hangover this morning, but they'll go to work with a spring in their step and their colours flying proudly.
They've waited a long time for this.
.