Manchester City 2 Aston Villa 1Manchester City's fans are daring to dream again. Thirty years have passed since their last trophy and it is necessary to go back to 1969 to trace their last FA Cup, but Stuart Pearce and his players have, at the very least, brought hope to a club where the supporters had begun to fear disappointment simply came with the territory.
His England credentials further enhanced, Pearce will now lead his team into their first quarter-final for 13 years courtesy of goals from Georgios Samaras and Darius Vassell and some robust defending in a nerve-shredding finale. The winners of tonight's fifth-found replay between West Ham United and Bolton will visit the City of Manchester Stadium on Monday, when Pearce will hope to avoid a repeat of the 15,000 empty seats last night for a match he had described as "the biggest of our season".
City, in truth, would have beaten Villa convincingly at Villa Park had they not been so wasteful in attack and they set about last night as if harbouring a smouldering grievance. They were snappier in the tackle, first to the loose balls, quicker of mind and, in an opening half of near-unremitting pressure, superior in every department.
They also appear to have a striker who is blessed with the predatory instincts to trouble the most accomplished defence. Not much was known about Samaras when he signed for £6 million from Heerenveen in January but the tall, loping striker has quickly set about making an impression. When he latched on to Albert Riera's 17th-minute pass, dinked the ball past Olof Mellberg and beat Villa's goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen at the second attempt it was the fourth goal he has scored in his six appearances for the club.
By half-time City could have effectively extinguished Villa's challenge. Joey Barton could not get a full enough contact on Stephen Jordan's left-wing cross when only two yards out and, as David O'Leary's team threatened to capitulate, some splendid work from Darius Vassell left Trevor Sinclair bearing down on goal with only Sorensen to beat. The Danish goalkeeper saved his team with an outstretched boot.
City doubled their lead within two minutes of the restart. At least three opportunities to clear the ball were passed up as Barton's low cross ricocheted around the penalty area before Riera swung out his left foot and Vassell turned the ball in from three yards out.
City had to cope with Samaras not reappearing after the interval because of a dead leg but it did little to put them off their stride. Antoine Sibierski filled in seamlessly as the one-way traffic continued.
The only disappointment for City was the large swathes of empty seats when ticket prices had been slashed to as little as £5. Those who turned up will regard it as money well spent. Villa were abject and, with 17 minutes remaining, their followers let O'Leary know exactly what they thought about it, requesting en masse: "Can we have a shot?"
They got their wish with five minutes to go, Steven Davis's goal setting up a grandstand finish compounded by four minutes of stoppage time.
MAN CITY: James, Jihai, Dunne, Richards, Jordan, Sinclair, Barton, Musampa, Riera, Samaras (Sibierski 45), Vassell (Wright-Phillips 89). Subs Not Used: Weaver, Sommeil, Reyna. Booked: Samaras, Riera, Musampa. Goals: Samaras 17, Vassell 49.
ASTON VILLA: Sorensen, Hughes, Mellberg, Ridgewell, Bouma, McCann, Davis, Barry, Baros (Gardner 40), Phillips, Moore. Subs Not Used: Taylor, Samuel, Whittingham. Booked: Gardner, Mellberg, McCann. Goals: Davis 85.
Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).
