Manchester City cruise past Middlesbrough to reach FA Cup semi finals

Manchester City sealed their place in the FA Cup semi-finals with a comfortable 2-0 win over Middlesbrough.

David Silva got the visitors off to the perfect start, slotting home from six yards after being found by Pablo Zabaleta, with less than three minutes on the clock.

The frantic start was not indicative of the remainder of the first half, with the hosts growing into the game but unable to level the scores.

READ MORE: When is the FA Cup draw? Start time and semi-final draw ball numbers

READ MORE: Forget fatigue, Guardiola's going all out as Man City target cup glory

The second period started in a similar vein to the first and Silva should have added his second in almost identical fashion to his opener but blazed over.

Sergio Aguero then hit the post from close distance in another glaring miss, but soon made amends by tucking home a fine cutback from Leroy Sane.

Gaston Ramirez brought an extra spark to Middlesbrough's attack after his introduction but could not prevent City confirming their name in Monday's semi-final draw.

It took City a little more than two minutes to exploit Boro's recent defensive frailty and establish a bridgehead on Teesside.

Yaya Toure was afforded all the time he needed to lift a pass into the path of on-rushing full-back Zabaleta and although Raheem Sterling made a mess of his shot when the ball came in, Silva behind him did not despite Guzan's best efforts.

Boro were simply too passive in the opening stages with Toure, Silva and Leroy Sane allowed to roam freely with support from full-backs Zabaleta and Gael Clichy, and it looked to be only a matter of time before the visitors increased their lead.

READ MORE: Man City win maintains Guardiola's cup record stretching back to 2009

READ MORE: Manchester City must improve finishing - Guardiola

They might have done just that had Sane delivered his 16th-minute cross more accurately to Aguero after being played in behind Antonio Barragan.

The home side were enjoying a measure of success with the long ball as John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi struggled to deal with lone striker Rudy Gestede in the air, and the frontman set up midfielder Marten de Roon to half-volley wide before forcing a save from Claudio Bravo with a firm 22nd-minute header.

But with Boro starting to press higher up the pitch, chances arrived in greater numbers and Cristhian Stuani called upon Bravo with a 37th-minute downward header from De Roon's cross.

READ MORE: Karanka takes pride in Middlesbrough defeat

City resumed in ominous fashion as Aguero saw Guzan help his 51st-minute flick from Sterling's cross on to the post and Zabaleta blasted just wide seconds later, and the keeper had to come to the rescue once again to deny Sane after he had exchanged passes with Silva.

Guzan tipped away Silva's 64th-minute shot as it headed towards the bottom corner and then repeated the feat from Sane's viciously-curling effort seconds later, but there was nothing he could do to prevent Aguero doubling the lead from Sane's inch-perfect 67th-minute cross.

The former Aston Villa man had to block another Silva shot with his legs and claw out Sterling's late goal-bound effort after Stones had cleared Fabio's 77th-minute header off the line, but the trip to Wembley had been booked long before.