24.02.2010
City slickers reduced to trophy-less paupers by Stoke
Manchester City's hopes of turning petrodollars into silverware this season were crushed on Wednesday when Stoke ended their interest in the FA Cup with a 3-1 extra-time win in their fifth round replay on Wednesday.
City remain in the hunt for a place in next season's Champions League. But any prospect of winning something in their first campaign under Abu Dhabi ownership disappeared at the Britannia Stadium with a defeat that will pile the pressure on to increasingly beleaguered City manager Roberto Mancini.
Goals from Ryan Shawcross and Tuncay Sanli sealed Stoke's win after Craig Bellamy had forced the tie into extra-time, two minutes after substitute Dave Kitson had given the home side a 79th-minute lead.
City also had Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor sent-off three minutes before the final whistle in normal time.
While Stoke can look forward to a quarter-final trip to holders Chelsea, Mancini was left to contemplate what was City's fourth defeat in 15 matches under the Italian's stewardship.
While City suffered a difficult evening, two of their rivals for fourth spot in the Premier League, Tottenham and Aston Villa, kept their Cup hopes alive by easing into the last eight.
Spurs sauntered to a 4-0 win over Bolton while Villa - who are due at Wembley on Sunday to play Manchester United in the League Cup final - beat Crystal Palace 3-1 to set up a quarter-final meeting with Reading, who clinched a 3-2 win over West Brom in extra time.
Source: © 2010 AFP - Andrew Yates
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