Caroline Weir's classy late winner kept Manchester City in the Women's Super League title conversation and dealt a blow to derby rivals Manchester United.
Substitute Weir came off the bench to chip Mary Earps from 25 yards and score in a home Manchester derby for a third successive season.
City created the better chances as Lauren Hemp missed from close range and Jess Park curled on to a post.
City go fifth, two points off United in fourth and eight off leaders Arsenal.
The result completely opens up the race for the Champions League qualification spots, with Tottenham capitalising by beating Birmingham to leapfrog United and move into the top three.
But it will be remembered mostly for Weir's stunning impact from the bench as she continued her habit of scoring spectacular goals against the red half of Manchester.
City manager Gareth Taylor told BBC Two it was "pretty important for us to win and claw back" points on the teams above them.
"We deserved it. We played really good football from Ellie (Roebuck) all the way through to the top end of the pitch," he said. "We just needed that moment of quality that Caroline brings."
Another Puskas award nomination for Weir?
City have now hosted United three times since United's promotion to the WSL three years ago and Weir has netted in all three matches, scoring the winner twice.
All three goals have been spectacular, a long-range effort in 2019 at Etihad Stadium and a delicate lob in 2021 earning Fifa Puskas Award nominations for "most aesthetically significant" goal of the year.
Her strike at the Academy Stadium on Sunday was as good as those - and reminiscent of the second - as Weir noticed England keeper Earps a fraction off her line before chipping into the far corner with her left foot.
The goal spared the blushes of Hemp, who steered Park's cross over the bar from three yards early on - a miss it appeared City would rue as United dug in until Weir's moment of magic.
City raise European hopes - and damage United's
City, who have finished in the WSL top two for each of the past seven seasons, went in to this derby knowing that proud record was in danger.
A campaign without Champions League football is almost unthinkable for City, but they proved they are still top-three contenders, even if making the top two might be a step too far.
Asked after the game if they were giving up on the title, Taylor said: "I don't think we can.
"Our performances in general have been good. We're in the ascendency; we're dominating. We just need to turn those moments into chances and turn those chances into goals."
United, meanwhile, are bidding to finish above their rivals for the first time and seemed set to maintain their cushion over City until Weir's delightful intervention.
Manager Marc Skinner said United "weren't as aggressive as we needed to be".
"There was no way we were looking for a draw here," he said. "We're looking to play with the aggression that we know we have.
"Manchester City are a very well-drilled team, so when you leave one space they open it. When we are in a physical battle, one v one, we have to be better at winning those.
"Sometimes you have to grow into the mentality of these games. We're very much on the way to doing that, but we've got much more work to do."
United soaked up spells of City pressure throughout, although they needed misses from Hemp and Ellen White to remain level, while the upright thwarted Park.
United, without forward Leah Galton - absent through concussion protocols - grew in confidence as the game progressed and substitute Martha Thomas headed wide.
After a first away defeat of the season, United must now regroup during a two-week international break before facing City again, this time in the last 16 of the FA Cup on 27 February.
