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
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.
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.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (3) & SUBSTITUTIONS (5)
Manchester City
- 01 Hart
- 05 Zabaleta Booked
- 13 Kolarov
- 25 Fernandinho (Rodwell - 87' )
- 04 Kompany
- 26 Demichelis
- 07 Milner
- 14 Javi García
- 09 Negredo (Dzeko - 69' )
- 16 Agüero (Jovetic - 57' )
- 08 Nasri
Substitutes
- 02 Richards
- 06 Lescott
- 10 Dzeko
- 17 Rodwell
- 22 Clichy
- 30 Pantilimon
- 35 Jovetic
Sunderland
- 25 Mannone
- 27 Vergini
- 28 Alonso Booked
- 33 Cattermole
- 16 O'Shea
- 05 Brown
- 11 Johnson
- 07 Larsson (Giaccherini - 68' )
- 10 Wickham
- 14 Colback
- 31 Borini Booked (Scocco - 69' )
Substitutes
- 17 Altidore
- 22 Ba
- 23 Giaccherini
- 30 Scocco
- 32 Ustari
- 35 Mavrias
- 42 Agnew
Ref: Martin Atkinson
Att: 47,046
Live Text Commentary
Full time
Full TimeMatch ends, Manchester City 2, Sunderland 2.
90:00+4:13Full time
Full TimeSecond Half ends, Manchester City 2, Sunderland 2.
90:00+2:19
Offside, Sunderland. John O'Shea tries a through ball, but Connor Wickham is caught offside.
90:00+1:50Booking
BookingPablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90:00+1:46
Foul by Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City).
90:00+1:46
Ignacio Scocco (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90:00+0:49
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Martín Demichelis.
89:24
Attempt missed. Samir Nasri (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Stevan Jovetic.
87:59Goal scored
Goal!Goal! Manchester City 2, Sunderland 2. Samir Nasri (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Stevan Jovetic.
87:48
Attempt blocked. Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Edin Dzeko.
86:16Substitution
SubstitutionSubstitution, Manchester City. Jack Rodwell replaces Fernandinho.
82:40Goal scored
Goal!Goal! Manchester City 1, Sunderland 2. Connor Wickham (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Emanuele Giaccherini following a fast break.
82:03
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Connor Wickham.
81:33
James Milner (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
81:33
Foul by Jack Colback (Sunderland).
79:48
Attempt missed. Edin Dzeko (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Aleksandar Kolarov.
78:56
Attempt blocked. Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Fernandinho.
78:30
Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
78:30
Foul by Jack Colback (Sunderland).
76:21
Attempt missed. Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Fernandinho.
74:03
Fernandinho (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
74:03
Foul by Emanuele Giaccherini (Sunderland).
72:26Goal scored
Goal!Goal! Manchester City 1, Sunderland 1. Connor Wickham (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Emanuele Giaccherini with a cross.
71:40
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Joe Hart.
71:38
Attempt saved. Jack Colback (Sunderland) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Adam Johnson with a through ball.
70:29
Foul by James Milner (Manchester City).
70:29
Marcos Alonso (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
69:24
Foul by James Milner (Manchester City).
69:24
Marcos Alonso (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
68:42
Attempt missed. Wes Brown (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Connor Wickham.
68:26Substitution
SubstitutionSubstitution, Sunderland. Ignacio Scocco replaces Fabio Borini.
68:04Substitution
SubstitutionSubstitution, Manchester City. Edin Dzeko replaces Álvaro Negredo.
67:23Substitution
SubstitutionSubstitution, Sunderland. Emanuele Giaccherini replaces Sebastian Larsson.
66:07
Attempt missed. Fabio Borini (Sunderland) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is too high. Assisted by Sebastian Larsson.
64:59
Attempt missed. Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Samir Nasri with a cross following a set piece situation.
64:23Booking
BookingMarcos Alonso (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
64:16
James Milner (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
64:16
Foul by Marcos Alonso (Sunderland).
63:46
Foul by Álvaro Negredo (Manchester City).
63:46
Marcos Alonso (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
63:17
Attempt saved. Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Samir Nasri.
62:17
Javi García (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
62:17
Foul by Jack Colback (Sunderland).
59:58
Hand ball by James Milner (Manchester City).
59:47
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
59:27
Delay in match Adam Johnson (Sunderland) because of an injury.
58:14
Attempt blocked. Fernandinho (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Samir Nasri.
56:09Substitution
SubstitutionSubstitution, Manchester City. Stevan Jovetic replaces Sergio Agüero.
55:14
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
55:14
Foul by Marcos Alonso (Sunderland).
51:48
Foul by Martín Demichelis (Manchester City).
51:48
Fabio Borini (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
50:33
James Milner (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
50:33
Foul by Connor Wickham (Sunderland).
49:29
Foul by Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City).
49:29
Jack Colback (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
47:21
Foul by Javi García (Manchester City).
47:21
Connor Wickham (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
46:46
Attempt missed. Álvaro Negredo (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is too high.
45:00
Second Half begins Manchester City 1, Sunderland 0.
45:00+4:11Half time
Half TimeFirst Half ends, Manchester City 1, Sunderland 0.
45:00+4:09
Attempt missed. Samir Nasri (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Fernandinho.
45:00+1:46
Álvaro Negredo (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
45:00+1:46
Foul by Wes Brown (Sunderland).
45:00+1:08
Attempt missed. Adam Johnson (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Santiago Vergini.
45:00+0:08
Foul by Álvaro Negredo (Manchester City).
45:00+0:08
Marcos Alonso (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
42:18
Attempt missed. Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Samir Nasri.
38:07
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Vincent Kompany.
36:09
Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
36:09
Jack Colback (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
35:12
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
32:52
Delay in match Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) because of an injury.
32:52
Delay in match Marcos Alonso (Sunderland) because of an injury.
32:06
Foul by Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City).
32:06
Fabio Borini (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
31:04Booking
BookingFabio Borini (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card.
30:48
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Fabio Borini.
28:47
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
27:52
Delay in match Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) because of an injury.
27:22
Attempt missed. Fabio Borini (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Marcos Alonso.
25:35
James Milner (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
25:35
Foul by Connor Wickham (Sunderland).
24:11
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Wes Brown.
22:12
Attempt missed. Adam Johnson (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Lee Cattermole.
19:12
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Vincent Kompany.
17:39
Attempt missed. Fabio Borini (Sunderland) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the left. Assisted by Adam Johnson with a through ball.
16:22
Attempt missed. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Aleksandar Kolarov.
14:38
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Martín Demichelis.
13:59
Connor Wickham (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
13:59
Foul by Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City).
13:26
Jack Colback (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
13:26
Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
11:59
Attempt missed. John O'Shea (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Sebastian Larsson with a cross following a corner.
11:30
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Vincent Kompany.
9:59
Attempt missed. Fernandinho (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Pablo Zabaleta with a headed pass.
9:56
Attempt saved. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Samir Nasri.
5:54
Attempt missed. John O'Shea (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Adam Johnson with a cross following a set piece situation.
5:16
Foul by Martín Demichelis (Manchester City).
5:16
Connor Wickham (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
1:54Goal scored
Goal!Goal! Manchester City 1, Sunderland 0. Fernandinho (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sergio Agüero with a through ball.
0:11
Foul by Jack Colback (Sunderland).
0:11
Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
0:00
First Half begins.
0:00
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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