Zabaleta strikes late as City into FA Cup 5th round
Source: Agencies |
January 27, 2013, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MANCHESTER City reached the fifth round of the English FA Cup yesterday after Pablo Zabaleta's late goal gave it a 1-0 win in an attritional cup tie at bogey team Stoke City.
The English champion had not won at Stoke in six previous visits but it made an assured start and saw David Silva hit the post in the eighth minute after being invited to shoot by the home defense.
Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross had a goal ruled out for offside, while City received a blow shortly before half-time when captain and center-back Vincent Kompany had to go off after rolling his ankle.
Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen saved bravely at Gareth Barry's feet in the 64th minute, while Peter Crouch headed a left-wing cross over the bar at the other end 10 minutes from full-time.
The tie looked set for a replay until Zabaleta started and finished a sweeping move in the 85th to send Roberto Mancini's men into round five.
The Argentine exchanged passes with a teammate inside the City half and then cantered upfield to meet substitute Sergio Aguero's low cross with a deft outside-of-the-foot finish that nestled in the bottom-right corner.
Second-tier Brighton and Hove Albion, third-round conqueror of Newcastle United, will go in search of another Premier League scalp later when it welcomes Arsenal.
Manchester United is in action in the evening kickoff, with top-flight rival Fulham the visitor to Old Trafford.
Macclesfield Town and Luton Town of the fifth-tier Conference National will be bidding to emulate the exploits of fourth-division Bradford City, which overcame seven-time FA Cup winner Aston Villa in mid-week to reach the League Cup final.
Both sides face Premier League opposition, with Macclesfield hosting Wigan Athletic and Luton visiting Norwich City.
In today's Cup encounters, third tier Brentford and Oldham Athletic host holder Chelsea and Liverpool, respectively, while Tottenham Hotspur visits second tier Leeds United.
The fourth round began with an upset on Friday, when Championship club Millwall deepened Villa's gloom with a 2-1 victory over Paul Lambert's side at The Den.
Former England striker Darren Bent put Villa in front early on but the Premier League struggler was then rocked by goals from defender Danny Shittu (27) and forward John Marquis (89).
Reeling Villa has won only four league games all season and is fourth from bottom.
The English champion had not won at Stoke in six previous visits but it made an assured start and saw David Silva hit the post in the eighth minute after being invited to shoot by the home defense.
Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross had a goal ruled out for offside, while City received a blow shortly before half-time when captain and center-back Vincent Kompany had to go off after rolling his ankle.
Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen saved bravely at Gareth Barry's feet in the 64th minute, while Peter Crouch headed a left-wing cross over the bar at the other end 10 minutes from full-time.
The tie looked set for a replay until Zabaleta started and finished a sweeping move in the 85th to send Roberto Mancini's men into round five.
The Argentine exchanged passes with a teammate inside the City half and then cantered upfield to meet substitute Sergio Aguero's low cross with a deft outside-of-the-foot finish that nestled in the bottom-right corner.
Second-tier Brighton and Hove Albion, third-round conqueror of Newcastle United, will go in search of another Premier League scalp later when it welcomes Arsenal.
Manchester United is in action in the evening kickoff, with top-flight rival Fulham the visitor to Old Trafford.
Macclesfield Town and Luton Town of the fifth-tier Conference National will be bidding to emulate the exploits of fourth-division Bradford City, which overcame seven-time FA Cup winner Aston Villa in mid-week to reach the League Cup final.
Both sides face Premier League opposition, with Macclesfield hosting Wigan Athletic and Luton visiting Norwich City.
In today's Cup encounters, third tier Brentford and Oldham Athletic host holder Chelsea and Liverpool, respectively, while Tottenham Hotspur visits second tier Leeds United.
The fourth round began with an upset on Friday, when Championship club Millwall deepened Villa's gloom with a 2-1 victory over Paul Lambert's side at The Den.
Former England striker Darren Bent put Villa in front early on but the Premier League struggler was then rocked by goals from defender Danny Shittu (27) and forward John Marquis (89).
Reeling Villa has won only four league games all season and is fourth from bottom.
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