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Manchester City scored twice in stoppage time to be crowned champions for the first time in 44 years by beating Queens Park Rangers to win the Premier League on goal difference amid almost unbearable drama. City's hopes of claiming the title looked to slipping away as QPR - already safe after Stoke City beat Bolton - held on desperately to an unlikely lead and Manchester United led at Sunderland. City, needing three points to clinch the prize, led through Pablo Zabaleta at half-time but Djibril Cisse levelled for QPR just after the break. QPR lost Joey Barton after he was shown a red card following a clash with Carlos Tevez but then stunned the Etihad Stadium into silence as Jamie Mackie headed them in front. City set up permanent camp in QPR's half but looked to be condemned to misery as QPR keeper Paddy Kenny produced a string of saves to ensure Mark Hughes' side held firm. Then, as the clock ticked into five minutes of additional time, City and their supporters were transported from the depths of despondency the highest high in the space of moments. Substitute Edin Dzeko headed an equaliser two minutes into the extra period and then - in a stadium almost bordering on hysteria - Sergio Aguero drove into the penalty area and flashed a finish past Kenny. The Etihad Stadium was an explosion of joy and relief as 44 years of frustration poured out, Aguero wheeling his shirt about his head in celebration and manager Roberto Mancini, who had cut an increasingly frantic figure, racing around on the turf in ecstasy. As Mike Dean's final whistle blew, the reality dawned on City as they capped a run of form that has seen them overturn United's eight-point advantage in the space of five weeks. And for supporters who have suffered watching the successes of neighbours United under Sir Alex Ferguson, this was the perfect moment of redemption. The atmosphere was a mixture of the tense and triumphal as the teams came out to a torrent of golden ticker tape raining down from the stands. QPR's intentions soon became clear as City ran into massed ranks of resistance and the early celebratory mood became tense as Mancini's side struggled to fashion clear-cut chances. The breakthrough finally came six minutes before half-time. Yaya Toure had been struggling for some time with a hamstring injury, but he was able to play in Zabaleta and his shot squirmed through the hands of QPR keeper Kenny and in off the far post.