Man City 1 Man United 0: Vincent Kompany, so often a Manchester City hero this season, decided quite possibly the most important game in his club's history this evening when he headed home a 45th minute winner to send United's noisy neighbours back to the top of the Permier League on goal difference.
With an eight-goal advantage on United and two games to go, the title seems City's to lose, but they must yet travel to St James's Park to face Newcastle United and host relegation fodder QPR.
"Absolutely buzzing," said the captain afterwards. "We've been waiting for this moment.It's far from over and we know that, but to give our fans two wins over United this season... we have to finish it off and we have to do it over the next two games."
The euphoric man-of-the-match added on Sky Sports 1: "Someone texted me today and said he thought I was going to score the goal, and I thought he was a lunatic. "For us to get this result, we wanted it so bad. It all comes down to the dream we had when we were children, and we all want it so much."
A crackling atmosphere greeted the players as the sun set in Manchester and it was Alex Ferguson's experienced title winners who began with real urgency. There were clearly some nerves in the home ranks, both on and off the field, and United threatened in the opening minutes when Ryan Giggs was allowed too much time to cross and Kompany blocked Michael Carrick's shot.
With Diego Maradona watching from the stands it was City's South Americans who began to warm to the task, along with Spaniard David Silva who orchestrated City's attack. Argentine Carlos Tevez got free on the right but his cross was well cleared and then Maradona's son-in-law Sergio Aguero sliced a shot high and wide when well placed.
Kompany was enjoying a good old-fashioned scrap with Wayne Rooney and the City captain was harshly booked for an innocuous tackle on the England striker who became marginalised as the half wore on.
United found themselves pinned back as City began to hog possession and Aguero again failed to make the most of another half chance that came his way.
The visitors would have been happy to hear the halftime whistle on level terms but Kompany, sent off when the sides met in the FA Cup this season, chose the perfect time to score.
When Silva swung in a corner the Belgian evaded the attention of marker Chris Smalling and thumped a header past the helpless David de Gea.
United could never really find any attacking rhythm after the break as City erected a sky blue wall to deny United's forwards players any quality service.
With the clock ticking and the visitors becoming desperate tempers flared in the technical area with Mancini and Ferguson involved in a heated exchange.
City's Yaya Toure almost gave his side breathing space with a shot that whistled wide.
Ferguson threw on Danny Welbeck and Ashley Young to bolster United's attack but City held firm to spark a deafening rendition of club anthem Blue Moon.
