Whenever football fans recall that famous afternoon when Manchester City won their first league title in 44 years in the dying seconds of the season, commonly known as 93:20 - the exact time Sergio Aguero scored - many people forget about the first half strike which began the rollercoaster ride of emotions.
Just before half-time, with City fans desperate for a break-through goal to alleviate the unbearable tension, defender Pablo Zabaleta took a stinging hopeful shot - which QPR keeper Paddy Kenny hopelessly parried into his net.
The Etihad Stadium burst into euphoria, and what followed was one of the most eventful second halves in football history - with QPR taking a shocking 2-1 lead before Edin Dzeko equalised and Aguero scored ‘the goal that shook the world’.
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Speaking to The Offside Rule podcast, Zabaleta was aiming for a 1-0 win from when he scored - holding hope that his name would be the one to come up first in the history books.
“I always say to Sergio, I can’t believe you were so sure with the 93 minutes, scoring the winner and being the hero of that day,” explained Zabaleta.
“At half-time, I thought we should finish 1-0 - and fans would keep watching that game hopefully remembering ‘Zabaleta’s goal that gave Manchester City the first Premier League title for years’.
“But when QPR equalised and then got in front, I thought ‘Oh no, I didn’t score many goals during the season, that was my first one in probably the best game’ - but in the end, we needed Aguero to the rescue."
Speaking of his compatriot striker, ‘Zaba’ also praised Aguero for remaining one of the best strikers in the Premier League for so long and being one of the greatest team-mates he’s ever shared a football pitch with.
“I think he deserves so much credit, he’s probably one of the best strikers we have seen in the Premier League for the last seven to eight years.
“He’s a fantastic striker, one of the best I’ve ever played with and he’s a really nice lad as well.
“Man City have been so lucky to have a striker like Sergio when you look at the top strikers like Harry Kane, Lionel Messi, and everyone - you need top goalscorers in your team and that’s what Sergio does.”
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