A powerful header from Micah Richards was enough to see Manchester City into the semi-finals of the FA Cup as a spirited Reading were over powered at Eastlands on Sunday evening.
Reading were the stronger of the two sides in the opening 10 minutes keeping the ball well and closing down their Premier League opponents before they could create space or chances.
But City eventually eventually found a rhythm and although the Championship side still threatened and pressed on occasion, it was City that created the better chances in the opening 45.
David Silva was the spark City needed and his passing and movement created City's biggest threats. After Shaun Wright-Phillips fired from an angle straight at Reading keeper Alex, Silva pounced on the lose ball but his effort from close range was fired straight into the face of the helpless keeper and bounced wide for a corner.
Yaya Toure and Silva both saw efforts fly straight at Alex and City were eventually forced to start firing from long range as Ian Harte and the rest of the Reading defence stood firm.
Reading threatened on occasion creating momentary periods of pressure. Captain McAnuff and fellow winger Jimmy Kebe both threatened to produce chances but solid defending from Kompany and Richards prevented Reading from turning their pressure into efforts on goal.
Kebe continued to trouble City after the break and it was his break and through ball that gave Hunt an opportunity from a tight angle, but the Irish man's sliced shot was well wide of Joe Harts goal. Despite an encouraging opening 5 minutes City began to take control of the game as the half continued.
Silva was joined by Tevez who finally sparked into life after the break and the two of them created more testing opportunities for Reading's defence.
Silva found the Argentinian with a low cross but his flicked close range effort was again straight at Alex and was cleared away. The Reading keeper continually called into action as City continued to press, but the majority of chances created were straight at the man between the posts, with only Micah Richards' header from a corner forcing an athletic finger tip save to tip the looping ball over.
Finally, after 74 minutes, the banana waving City fans were given their goal. David Silva's corner was met by Richards' head once again but this time the City right back saw his effort power through the right hand of Alex and rattle the back of the net.
City's chances dried up after that despite their possession and obvious quality over the visitors, and Reading pushed in a slightly nervy final 10 minutes in search of a equaliser. But the Blues back 4 stood strong only Bryn Gunnarsson's glanced header wide causing a moments panic for Hart in goal.
Reading will leave Manchester beaten but proud after a good performance that on another day, might have caused more problems for City. City will now head to Wembley for a FA Cup semi-final date with their cross town rivals, Manchester United.
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