Ashton brace puts Hammers in semis
Monday, 20, Mar 2006 10:36
A classy double from striker Dean Ashton handed West Ham a 2-1 win against Manchester City in tonight's FA Cup quarter-final at the City of Manchester Stadium.
The Hammers had to endure a late comeback from City, who pulled one back in the closing stages from a measured volley by Kizito Musampa, despite having been reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Sun Jihai.
It was a mostly disappointing first 45 minutes, with the attacking open football favoured by Man City boss Stuart Pearce and Hammers manager Alan Pardew not in evidence.
City should have gone ahead when Musampa was allowed space on the edge of the area, but he ballooned his shot way over.
Ashton's first goal came with five minutes left in the first half after a slick interchange with strike partner Marlon Harewood. Showing good composure and a clean touch, Ashton powered in to beat David James at his near post.
The second half was an entirely different affair, with City considerably upping the tempo, but Pearce's half-time encouragement seemed to have gone straight to the head of Chinese international Jihai, who inexplicably struck out at the impressive Matt Etherington.
Referee Howard Webb gave Jihai a straight red and soon after the Hammers capitalised on the extra space given to them by ten-man City.
When the second goal did come after 69 minutes it was in a slightly bizarre fashion. West Ham full-back Christian Dailly got forward well to deliver a cross but injured himself in the process.
As Dailly lay prostrate on the ground the Man City players continued to play on, only to see Musampa lose possession in the middle of the park to the away team's skipper Nigel Reo-Coker.
Reo-Coker's long boss released Israeli international Yossi Benayoun, who unselfishly squared for Ashton to slot home his fifth goal of the season since his £7 million January transfer from Norwich.
Going 2-0 down seemed to spur City on and they got their reward with five minutes left when Musampa met a rightwing cross from substitute Lee Croft with a stunning volley that easily beat keeper Shaka Hislop.
However, there was to be no repeat of last-gasp heroics seen in previous FA Cup rounds from Man City and when the final whistle blew jubilant West Ham players, staff and fans celebrated the prospect of an FA Cup semi-final.