Filed under: Manchester City, Stoke City, FA Cup, Football, Remember When...
Manchester City are the favourites ahead of the FA Cup final, but Stoke need to go back only 15 months to justify their own claims.Stoke ended the Sky Blues' interest in the competition last season - and intend to do the same this year, albeit at the final hurdle.
A repeat of the 3-1 scoreline at the Britannia Stadium in February, 2010 would dismay Manchester City, but neutral viewers would surely settle for a final that contains as much action and controversy as their previous cup meeting.
Extra-time tension, a red card, frequent flare-ups and four goals...it all added up to a typically abrasive cup-tie that followed a 1-1 draw in the first tie at Eastlands.
There was even a feisty touchline argument between managers Tony Pulis and Roberto Mancini.
"Tony should bring a whistle next time," Mancini said afterward. "He wants to be the referee."
Mancini was a frustrated figure at the end, particularly since the visitors could have clinched progress into the sixth round in the opening stages as Vincent Kompany and Emmauel Adebayor went close and Craig Bellamy missed an easy chance.
But Stoke, unbeaten in their previous 10 games, weathered the story largely thanks to keeper Thomas Sorensen, started to create opportunities and went ahead in the 79th minute through substitute Paul Kitson.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/05/13/remember-when-stoke-triumphed-in-cups-previous-tale-of-two/
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