Darren Bent’s late penalty was enough for Sunderland to inflict the first defeat of the season on big-spending Manchester City in a dramatic finale at the Stadium of Light.

It was the first goal the Eastlands outfit had conceded in either the EPL or Europa League. And it came at the end of a match City should have won.

Captain Carlos Tevez was particularly at fault with an amazing miss on 15 minutes, side-footing over an open goal from 12 yards after a lung-busting 60-yard run and inch-perfect pass from Yaya Toure.

Toure himself missed a golden opportunity later in the half, his hesitancy six yards from goal allowing Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet to rush out and smother his shot.

Mignolet made an even better save in the second half to deny Emanuel Adebayor, somehow getting his left hand to the striker’s close-range right-foot flick and diverting it wide.

Sunderland finished the stronger, with Manchester United loanee Danny Wellbeck prominent.

And deep into stoppage time Richards wrestled Darren Bent to the ground as the striker dived for a cross from the right.

Bent horribly mishit his spot-kick. But the ball skidded under City keeper Joe Hart’s drive and into the net.