Dressing room hiding, Mancini's curses and the star who invaded the pitch: the inside story of Sergio Aguero's earth-shaking Man City goal

Yaya Toure retreated to the dressing room, unable to watch. Gareth Barry’s eyes were on the sky, apparently watching the Premier League trophy in a helicopter, flying into the arms of Manchester United. And Roberto Mancini was stalking the touchline, cursing his players and sowing the seeds of his ultimate Manchester City downfall.

When it comes to drama, to the ultimate transportation from the depths of despair to the dreamy heights of football delight, nothing compares to the events of May 13, 2012, ten years ago today.

Tears of frustration were streaming down the cheeks of grown men inside the Etihad Stadium, and wherever on the planet there was a small Blue corner, as the final home game of the 2011-12 Premier League season boiled down to added time, and City were trailing 2-1, needing to win to hold off Manchester United, who had just won their final game, at Sunderland.

ALSO READ:De Bruyne's big blooming secret revealed

Everyone knows the rest of the script. Edin Dzeko’s towering header seemed like a consolation. But then Mario Balotelli played a cute pass to Sergio Aguero, he side-stepped Queen’s Park Rangers defender Taye Taiwo and swept in one of the most iconic goals in English football history.

The stadium went from funereal mourning to explosive joy and disbelief. An 11-year-old Phil Foden, a young talent in the Blues academy at the time, invaded the pitch with his mum.

Toure and assistant manager Attilio Lombardo, who had joined the injured midfielder in the dressing room, unable to watch the dream die, raced out to join in the ecstasy. And Aguero’s name was written in gold leaf in the annals of sporting history.

Goalkeeping coach Massimo Battara reckons Mancini’s substitutions - Dzeko and Balotelli