Darius Vassell knocked former club Aston Villa out of the FA Cup on Tuesday, scoring to lead Manchester City to a 2-1 victory in a fifth-round replay and into the quarterfinals.
After Greek striker Georgios Samaras put City ahead, Vassell — who left Villa at the start of the season — made it 2-0 four minutes into the second half. Steven Davis replied for Villa with five minutes remaining, but City prevailed and will face either West Ham or Bolton for a place in the semifinals. They replay at Upton Park on Wednesday.
In the other quarterfinals, to be played during the week of March 20, Chelsea host Newcastle, Birmingham welcome Liverpool and Middlesbrough go to Charlton.
City, which announced earlier on Tuesday that manager Stuart Pearce had signed a new two-year contract, went ahead in the 17th minute.
Samaras beat Olof Mellberg in a run down the left and, although his first shot was blocked by goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, the ball rolled back to the Greek forward, who prodded it into an empty net.
After Villa lost Czech striker Milan Baros with an injury to his right knee, Sinclair broke in on Sorensen alone and had a chance for a second seven minutes before half-time, but the Danish ‘keeper blocked the shot with his leg.
Vassell scored the second when he deflected home a 10m shot from Albert Riera. Minutes later, Antoine Sibierski almost added a third but his header struck the post.
Davis gave City some anxious moments by scoring five minutes from the end with a close-range shot after being set up by Luke Moore. — Sapa-AP