The actual defining moment, the most spine-tinglingly bewildering single piece of action in Premier League history, was choreographed seconds beforehand. All seemingly lost, Manchester City supporters busy thumping seats in anger, Edin Dzeko equalises with 92 minutes on the clock. Sergio Aguero sprints back to the halfway line and shouts over to Mario Balotelli.
Manchester United had won at Sunderland but this title race was not quite done yet. One more goal. Aguero knew that, telling Balotelli to assume the No 9 role for the remainder of stoppage time, that he would drop deep to hunt for possession.