West Ham's Dean Ashton celebrates after scoring against Manchester City during their FA Cup quarter final this morning. Picture / Reuters
West Ham United's record buy Dean Ashton scored twice to send the London side into the English FA Cup soccer semifinals after a 2-1 win at Manchester City today.
The striker, a seven million pounds signing from Norwich City in January, scored with a fierce drive just before halftime and
tapped in a second on 69 minutes to book West Ham their first Cup semi-final appearance since 1991.
City's Chinese defender Sun Jihai was shown a straight red card after 56 minutes for swinging an arm at Matthew Etherington as they tussled near the touchline.
Congolese midfielder Kiki Musampa blasted in a left-foot volley from just outside the box five minutes from time but City's late pressure failed to bring an equaliser.
The home side, without injured striker Andy Cole and Georgios Samaras, lacked a punch up front and rarely troubled Shaka Hislop.
Ashton's first goal on 41 minutes embarrassed England keeper David James, who was beaten by a well-struck low shot at his near post after the striker had latched on to Nigel Reo Coker's flick.
United defender Paul Konchesky headed off the line from Sun moments before the break but City's hopes of a comeback were dented when Sun was red-carded for needlessly flaying his arm at winger Etherington.
West Ham scored again when Musampa was robbed by Reo Coker and with City short of numbers at the back, Ashton had the simplest of chances to tap in Yossi Benayoun's cross.
The three remaining quarter-final ties take place on consecutive nights this week. Birmingham City host Liverpool on Tuesday, Newcastle United visit Chelsea on Wednesday and Charlton Athletic welcome Middlesbrough on Thursday.
The controversial timetable, which has angered managers, was designed to avoid a fixture pile-up and allow Sven-Goran Eriksson time to prepare for the World Cup.
- REUTERS
