Strikes from David Silva and Sergio Agueroguided a dominantManchester City to victory over Middlesbrough in the FA Cup quarter final to send to Pep Guardiola's sidetoWembley insix weeks time.
Despite aplethora of chances to seal the game earlier goals in either halfwere enough toprovide Pep Guardiola with an opportunity to secure silverware in his first season with City.
With Middlesbrough looking to be defensively solid to keep an attacking Manchester City at bay, it unfortunately did not take long for the hosts to come unstuck. City's eleven, starting for the first time together,needed only two minutes to take the lead.
A lack of pressure allowed Yaya Toure to find Zabaleta making a run on the right side of the box who fed it across the six yard line, where three unmarked City attackers awaited and Silva was the beneficiary as hesmashed the ball into the back of the net.
David Silva's 6 goals for Man City this season:
2 in Europe
2 in the cups
2 in the league
Nice spread. pic.twitter.com/csBN9EM8QQ
Boro showed glimpses of offering a threat behind City's defensive line with the pace ofAdama Traore and the target man ofRudy Gestede, but their final deliveries andfinishing continued to exemplify why the hosts have scored in only twoof their lasteight games.
The home side'sfirst clearopportunity arosefrom their first corner of the game asGestede's header needed bothBravo and Zabaleta to clear the ball off the line.
With City seemingly struggling with the host'saerial threat the hosts momentum was halted when Gestedehad to be withdrawn only minutes later due to a hamstring injury, leadingtothe introduction of former Manchester City player, AlvaroNegredo.
Disappointing to see Gestede go off. City struggling to deal with his aerial ability when @Boro play the right balls #Borolive
Opportunities for both sides arose as the half came to a close, with LeroySane and Cristhian Stuanileft to rue their chances as respective wayward finishes and a header straight tothegoalkeeperleft the hosts with a big second half after going in at the break only one behind.
City did not take long to register their first opportunity in the second half as an unmarked run fromDe Bruyne was found by Toure and the first time pass from the 25-year-old was missedby Sterling and then skied over the bar bySilva, a reprieve for Boro who only moments later had the post to thank after a tight angle shot from Aguero.
How aren't Man City at least 3-0 up here?! ï'ˆ pic.twitter.com/dlD1D7vWhE
A dominant City had multiple opportunities toseal the game through efforts from Silva, Aguero and Sane which all needed the touch of Brad Guzan to keep the home side in the game.
It took twenty minutes for the visitors to finally make their opportunities count as Sane continued his form from the first half,cutting through Boro's defence with ease ashis ball across the box was met by Agueroto tap the ball into the corner, this timeleaving the 32-year-old goalkeeper withno chance.
Sergio Aguero doubles Man City's lead with his 24th goal of the season.
Another game, another goal.  pic.twitter.com/7BOjTKfTg1
Chance after chance arose for the visitors and Sterling looked to have made it three afterpouncing on a spilled ball from Guzan, only to be ruled offside.Boro then had an opportunityto steal one against play and make City's missed chances pay afterFabio had his headerdesperately cleared from the goal mouth with ten minutes left to play.
Middlesbrough's inability to score has seen Aitor Karanka's sidesuccumb to their fifth defeat in eight games in all competitions as strikes fromSilva and AguerosealedManchester City's place atWembley, reachingtheir first semi-final in four seasons.
Here's how #Boro will line up to face @ManCity...
#UTB ⚪� pic.twitter.com/OiBr6pYJj6
Your @HaysWorldwide #FACup quarter final line up!
Kick off only an hour away! #borovcity pic.twitter.com/B3GMI9bBSk