Source: Telegraph
Stoke City 3 Manchester City 1: match report
Ryan Shawcross and Tuncay struck in extra time as Stoke City dramatically emerged victorious from their three-game epic with Manchester City on Wednesday night. [LNB]Craig Bellamy had ensured the FA Cup fifth-round replay at the Britannia Stadium finished 1-1 after 90 minutes by immediately cancelling out Dave Kitson's late strike. [LNB] Related ArticlesDebate: Has Mancini improved Man City?West Brom 2 Reading 3 (aet)Aston Villa 3 Crystal Palace 1Tottenham 4 Bolton 0Roberto Mancini: Carlos Tevez is availableSport on televisionBut the Potters made a numerical advantage after Emmanuel Adebayor's harsh sending off count by reclaiming the lead through Shawcross from a Rory Delap throw and Tuncay finished the job. [LNB]Shawcross and Ricardo Fuller had both missed glorious chances to settle the tie in stoppage time but that was forgotten as the Potters powered into the quarter-finals for the first time since 1972. [LNB]The only concern for Stoke, whose strong finish was in stark contrast to their slow start, was the view the Football Association might take of a missile being thrown at Shay Given. [LNB]Stoke initially appeared to be caught out by City's team selection. [LNB]Having played out two more 1-1 draws with Stoke in the previous 12 days, City boss Roberto Mancini tried to surprise the hosts by freshening up his side. [LNB]Only five of the players that started the league clash last week began this time, with Bellamy among those to return. [LNB]It was the recently-injured Wales international's first start since reports of a training ground bust-up with Mancini surfaced last week. [LNB]The changes initially seemed to work as Bellamy and Adebayor linked up well and at pace. [LNB]Having previously struggled to handle Stoke's physical and direct approach, City seemed determined to dictate matters. [LNB]Adebayor forced a good early save from Thomas Sorensen from 35 yards and Vincent Kompany headed wide from a corner. [LNB]Adebayor and Bellamy then combined well but a deflection took the sting out of a Pablo Zabaleta pass and Gareth Barry scuffed a shot at Sorensen. [LNB]City looked certain to score when Adebayor broke clear from the halfway line and unselfishly played in Bellamy, but the Welshman's touch was heavy and Sorensen cleared. [LNB]Stoke's Mamady Sidibé was the first to be booked, for dissent, and Fuller followed after a late challenge on Given on the edge of the box. [LNB]But having troubled City with numerous Delap throw-ins lately, Stoke finally got chance to utilise their most infamous tactic just after the half-hour. [LNB]Again it caused problems as Sidibé flicked on dangerously across goal and another throw created a shooting chance for Liam Lawrence which Joleon Lescott bravely blocked. [LNB]Stoke started the second period at a higher intensity and put the visiting defence under considerable pressure. [LNB]Micah Richards was booked for a late tackle on Lawrence and Zabaleta was also cautioned soon after for catching Fuller. [LNB]Steve Bennett briefly halted play after a missile was thrown at Given, who had been booed since his clash with Fuller. [LNB]When the game resumed Stoke again tried the aerial route into the City box but Lescott and Richards both headed away dangerous crosses. [LNB]It was some time before City had another opportunity, Bellamy having a volley deflected wide by Shawcross in the 65th minute. [LNB]The game exploded into life 11 minutes from time as Kitson, introduced five minutes earlier, played a one-two with fellow substitute Tuncay and raced past Wayne Bridge to score. [LNB]Stoke's supporters cheered as if a last-eight clash with Chelsea was settled but their joy was tempered as Bellamy immediately replied. [LNB]Adebayor selflessly chested down a cross from Bridge and Bellamy rushed in to fire low past Sorensen. [LNB]The game barely had time to settle before Adebayor was sent off after being adjudged to have raised his arms too high in trying to hold off Shawcross. [LNB]It seemed a tough decision, but Adebayor did not complain. Bellamy protested on his behalf and was booked for dissent. [LNB]Shawcross almost won it in stoppage time but headed wide from a Glenn Whelan corner and Fuller also fired narrowly off-target from outside the box. [LNB]But Shawcross made amends five minutes into extra time as City again fell for a Delap throw. [LNB]Delap was not far inside the City half as he launched a huge throw into the box and Shawcross timed his leap perfectly to head past Given. [LNB]This time Stoke made good on their advantage and grabbed a third goal on the counter-attack four minutes later. [LNB]Whelan picked out Tuncay with a fine cross-field pass and the former Middlesbrough forward showed great skill to beat two defenders and fire past Lescott on the line. [LNB]The damage was done and Stoke played out time as the fans celebrated. [LNB]FA Cup quarter-final draw[LNB]Chelsea v Stoke CityFulham v Tottenham HotspurReading v Aston VillaPortsmouth v Birmingham City
