West Ham hammer City

ByEurosport

Published 20/03/2006 at 22:14 GMT

West Ham qualified for the FA Cup semi-finals following their 2-1win at Man City on Monday. Dean Ashton's brace put Alan Pardew's men through with Kiki Musampa's strike five minutes from time was only meager consolation for City, who played the last hour

Richard Dunne will be a disappointed man.

The Manchester City defender said he saw the FA Cup as an alternative way to secure a European spot, and yet, City were unable to pose a real threat to an organised West Ham side, who are now close to their first Cup final since 1980.

The game started with both teams eager to go forward and create chances. City came close with long-range efforts from Bradley Wright-Philipps and Kiki Musampa, but their shots never really worried Shaka Hislop.

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FOOTBALL - F.A Cup Quarter Finals 2006- Manchester City-West Ham United

Image credit: Reuters

The Hammers, on the other hand, were trying to create chances through simple passing play and one-twos.

It paid off five minutes before the break, when Dean Ashton was put through following a good combination with Matthew Etherington and Marlon Harewood. The former Norwich striker took the ball past Sylvain Distin and powered a left foot shot past David James.

Minutes later, City thought they were back in the game. Sun Jihai tried a bycicle kick inside the area but Paul Konchseky was on the line to clear the danger and enable his side to go in at half-time with a one-goal advantage.

Just after the break, City were to lose Sun Jihai, dismissed by Harold Webb for raising his hand following a bust-up with Etherington.

FOOTBALL 2005-2006 FA Cup Manchester City-West Ham Jihai

Image credit: Reuters

From then on it was the same story as in the first half, City looking for an equalizer from long-range efforts from Darius Vassell and Wright-Philipps, but it was Ashton once again, who killed the game off, converting from three yards a cross from Yossi Benayoun.

City looked miserable after Ashton's second, and could only rely on an individual prowess to get back in the game. Enter Musampa. The Dutchman was on the end of a Stephen Ireland cross to bury a volley from outside the area into Hislop's bottom right corner.

Musampa's screamer reignited City's hope to complete their come-back but the equalizer never came. West Ham deservedly go through to the semi-finals whilst City faces yet another season without a trophy.

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