Wigan Athletic continued their FA Cup defence in style with an incredible 2-1 victory at Manchester City.
The Latics sprung one of the biggest surprises in FA Cup history last year when Ben Watson’s last-minute header upset all the odds to see off City.
And the spectre of FA Cups past hung over the Etihad once more as goals from Jordi Gomez and James Perch were enough to send Latics through.
Man City 1-2 Wigan Ath
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Sixth Round proper
Sunday 9 March 2014
Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Winners receive £360,000 from FA Prize Fund
Samir Nasri’s strike as the home side heaped on the pressure counted for nothing as their Cup run was again ended by Wigan.
It was quite an afternoon for Wigan boss Uwe Rosler.
Re-united with the fans who still laud him as a cult hero following his four-year spell in Manchester during the '90s, the German would have wished for much, but certainly wouldn’t have expected such a successful return to his former club.
Since his arrival from Brentford back in December, Rosler’s Latics have suffered just three defeats in 15 and have won their last five.
Perfectly poised to make a late assault on the Championship play-off places, the DW outfit headed to the Etihad in fine form and it showed as they matched their more illustrious opponents in the opening stages.
Jordi Gomez tucks away his penalty for Wigan
Jordi Gomez blasted over with the first effort of the game and Chris McCann’s surging run should have come to more.
City looked unusually wasteful in possession and just minutes after Yaya Toure and Jesus Navas had combined well to threaten former England international Scott Carson, the visitors were in front.
Martin Demichelis tripped the onrushing Marc-Antoine Fortune in the box and referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot. Gomez made no mistake and the underdogs were in front.
The home side offered little in response throughout the remainder of the half and they were made to pay in the opening stages of the second when Latics doubled their lead.
James McArthur burst past three opposition defenders and crossed for Perch who beat his man to poke home.
Samir Nasri makes it 2-1
Two goals down and with their hopes of domestic dominance slipping away, Manuel Pellegrini introduced David Silva, James Milner and Edin Dzeko.
The risk paid off as his side took a grip of the game, but when Dzeko headed Gael Clichy’s cross against the foot of the post, their chances of a recovery seemed slim.
Nasri restored his side’s hopes, however, when he found the bottom corner from 18 yards and Dzeko could have restored parity twice only to see one effort blocked on the line and another fly inches wide of the post.
In the end late City pressure proved too little too late and Wigan were thoroughly deserving of yet another historic victory.
They will have to be at their very best once again if they hope to reach a second Final in as many years as Arsenal lay in wait at Wembley Stadium.
Manchester City (1-4-4-2): 30 Costel Pantilimon, 2 Micah Richards, 26 Martin Demichelis, 6 Joleon Lescott, 22 Gael Clichy, 15 Jesus Navas, 42 Yaya Toure, 14 Javi Garcia, 8 Samir Nasri, 9 Alvaro Negredo, 16 Sergio Aguero
Substitutes: 21 David Silva for Toure (52). 10 Edin Dzeko for Navas (52). 7 James Milner for Negredo (52).
Substitutes not used: 1 Joe Hart, 4 Vincent Kompany, 13 Aleksandar Kolarov, 17 Jack Rodwell
Manager: Manuel Pellegrini
Goals: Nasri (68)
Bookings: Nasri (34), Dzeko (85)
Wigan (1-5-3-2): 1 Scott Carson, 24 James Perch, 17 Emerson Boyce, 21 Ivan Ramis, 3 Stephen Crainey, 7 Chris McCann, 16 James McArthur, 4 Josh McEachran, 15 Callum McManaman, 14 Jordi Gomez, 32 Marc-Antoine Fortune
Substitutes: 25 Leon Barnett for Chris McCann, 46. 11 James McClean for McManaman, 58. Roger Espinoza for McEachran, 67.
Substitutes not used: 26 Ali Al Habsi, 6 Thomas Rogne, 2 Markus Holgersson, 29 Nicky Maynard.
Manager: Uwe Rosler
Goals: Gomez (27), Perch (47)
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Assistant referees: Darren Cann and Marc Perry
Fourth official: Kevin Friend
Attendance: 46,240
