Manchester City dropped points in their bid to win the Premier League as they drew at home against lowly Sunderland.
City gained a second-minute lead with Fernandinho's powerful effort, but went behind as Connor Wickham scored twice in 10 minutes, with both goals coming following Emanuele Giaccherini passes.
But with two minutes left, Black Cats goalkeeper Vito Mannone fumbled Samir Nasri's fierce strike into his own net.
City are six points behind leaders Liverpool and four behind Chelsea.
Man City's 2013-14 run-in
The fortunate way in which City scored a late equaliser, as Mannone agonisingly let Nasri's shot slip out of his grasp, gave a gloss to the game that perhaps Manuel Pellegrini's side did not deserve.
And as Nasri almost came close to snatching a winner in stoppage time, his anguished reaction showed how his team's fortunes have now changed.
In the aftermath, the result dealt a telling blow to the chances of repeating their Premier League success of 2012 as both Liverpool, and now Chelsea, have the title in their own hands.
The draw was just as unsatisfactory for Sunderland, who were the better team for large periods of the game, and missed out on a chance to close the gap on their relegation rivals.
Gus Poyet's side are six points from safety with a game in hand on the three teams above them - Cardiff, Fulham and Norwich - and the Sunderland boss will curse the agonising way in which his team let in Nasri's goal.
The Black Cats have been on a wretched run of form since they lost to Manchester City in the Capital One Cup final on 2 March, having taken one point from their last six league games before this match at Etihad Stadium.
But they arrived at this re-arranged fixture with a decent record against City and, despite the early opener, created several good chances throughout the game.
Had John O'Shea hit the target from two close-range headers or Fabio Borini squared the ball to one of two better-placed team-mates the picture could have looked very different before half-time.
Coming three days after an energy-sapping defeat at title rivals Liverpool, City started in lacklustre fashion but Fernandinho's fifth goal of the season gave them a secure platform to defend.
It was a well-worked strike so early in the contest. Alvaro Negredo dispossessed Lee Cattermole and then stepped over Sergio Aguero's pass allowing the Brazilian midfielder time to fire in at the near post.
Having last won a league game at Newcastle on 1 February, Sunderland did not let the early goal affect them and they were spurred on by Adam Johnson, who looked like he had a point to prove against his former employers.
At times, Sunderland appeared to over-step the mark as Aguero, making his first start since returning from injury, was hacked down by Wes Brown and Marcos Alonso kicked Pablo Zabaleta after the City defender tapped the ball away before his opponent's attempted shot.
After their positive start the Black Cats faded. Pellegrini's side grew in status and Aguero's deflected shot tested Mannone before the Argentine was replaced by Stevan Jovetic.
That all changed when Giaccherini came of the bench to inspire the visitors.
First, he crossed for Wickham, who tucked in at the back post for his first Sunderland league goal since October 2011. The Italian substitute then found the on-rushing English striker as he beat Joe Hart at the near post.
Sunderland stood on the verge of a famous win, but then Mannone clawed at thin air after he failed to grasp Nasri's shot from 12 yards.
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