Manchester City, Stoke seal semi-final berths

By Ben James Mar 13, 2011, 19:06 GMT

London - Manchester City and Stoke City sealed the two remaining semi-final places in the FA Cup on Sunday with wins over Reading and West Ham respectively.

Micah Richards scored the only goal of the game with a fine header as Manchester City edged out Reading 1-0 while Danny Higginbotham scored the winner as Stoke beat West Ham 2-1.

City will take on Manchester United in the last four while Stoke will take on Bolton.

City dominated possession throughout the match against Reading but the Championship side defended stoutly, with Jay Tabb clearing a Shane Long effort off the line.

Carlos Tevez almost put City ahead with a back-heel but it took a David Silva corner to produce the goal, with Richards outjumping the Reading defence to score the winner.

Robert Huth put them ahead early on with a powerful header and though Frederic Piquionne equalized, Higginbotham slammed in a low free kick to send Stoke through.

Stoke were even able to miss a penalty - when the scores were 1-1 - as Robert Green saved well from Matthew Etherington, but Higginbotham spared their blushes with the winning goal 18 minutes into the second half.

'West Ham are a great team but I think we thoroughly deserved it,' Higginbotham said. 'We have got great belief - and now a very tough tie [against Bolton].'

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