Manchester City secures their trip to the Semi-Final with a 1-0 win against Reading at Eastlands. Manchester City dominated easily, had the most chances, and looked dangerous seemingly every time they got the ball near the box. Shaun Wright-Phillips had a great chance that was saved by Reading keeper Alex McCarthy in the first half. David Silva was instrumental in causing a lot of trouble for the Reading Defense setting up many opportunities, including a chance for Wright-Philips and Yaya Toure that were saved. In the second half, City continued to pressure the Reading defense. Silva served up a nice cross on the ground that Tevez unsuccessfully tried to redirect with a cheeky back heel. In the 65th, Richards headed down a cross from a corner kick that bounced off the ground and just grazed above the post. City finally broke through in the 74th with a corner kick that was headed in nicely by Micah Richards. With the win, City books its spot in the FA Cup semis at Wembley against Manchester United.
Stoke City heads to the FA Cup Semi-Final for the first time in 39 years after a 2-1 win over West Ham United at the Britannia Stadium. The hosts started strong and were rewarded in the 12th minute. An unmarked Robert Huth headed home a perfectly placed long throw from Rory Delap to make it 1-0 to the Potters. In the 30th minute, West Ham struck back with a goal from Frederic Piquionne. Thomas Hitzlsperger provided a beautiful lob lead pass over the defense, which Piquionne looked to control with his arm. Piquionne chipped the ball over the onrushing goalie and fought off Robert Huth to score. Just after the break, Matthew Ethertington made a great run, including a beautiful nutmeg of James Tomkins in the process, and was taken down in the box for a penalty. Etherington stepped up to the penalty spot but has his shot expertly saved by Robert Green. Stoke City got their goal in the 63rd minute thanks to Danny Higginbotham. Stoke won a free kick on the very edge of the box where Higginbotham stepped up and smashed the free kick right through the wall. The shot was saved by Green initially but rolled over the line off of the ricochet. Stoke was able to hang on to the 2-1 advantage and secure their trip to Wembley to face Bolton.
