A superb performance from the Potters saw the trilogy of games with mega rich Manchester City end in the Potters favour. After a couple of 1-1 draws at both the Britannia Stadium, in the league, and Eastlands in the last ten days this match, an FA Cup replay, would have to be settled on the night.
The hosts had been denied a last minute winner in the league encounter here eight days ago, when a Ryan Shawcross header was unfairly ruled out, but they couldn't start as they finished that game with the visitors having the early chances, both Barry and Adebayor forcing Sorenson into good saves, the latters shot being expertly tipped around the post.
After a lull in the game, with a midfield battle seeing neither side giving an inch, the visitors had the next opportunity as Bellamy was slipped in on the wing. After cutting inside he fired in his shot but Sorenson had closed the angle well and saved confidently.
The longer the first half went on the more the Potters came into it and throw after throw was hurled into the box whilst Whitehead was also making himself dangerous, putting a number of crosses into the box to break the deadlock. The best chance came from a Whitehead cross where Delap came inbetween Richards and Kompany to head goalwards and force Given into an acrobatic save.
The second half saw plenty of attacking play but chances were few and far between and, due to great defensive displays from both sides, neither keeper had anything to do until the 79th minute when Given had to pick the ball out of his net. Kitson, who had just come on as a sub, collected a pass inside the box turned the defender and curled a shot from 12 yards inside the far post to send the home crowd delirious.
Unfortunately, before the celebrations had ended the scores were level, as Adebayor nodded a cross down to Bellamy, on the edge of the box, and the Welshman lashed the ball past Sorenson to tie up the scores.
The game was rocking now and barely sixty seconds after the restart there was a red card as Adebayor was given his marching orders after striking City defender Shawcross with a stray hand. The striker felt around for the defender before lashing out and was rightfully sent off.
The game then drifted to extra time with the only chance being a Ricardo Fuller effort in the fifth minute of injury time when he collected a pass, turned his marker inside out and curled a shot inches wide of the post with Given beaten.
The start of extra time saw Stoke immediately sieze the initiative when, with the ball smashed into touch following an almighty scramble in the box, a Delap throw in was met by Shawcross and with the ball planted into the net the Brit erupts. The goal is confirmed, you felt the need to check after last weeks disallowed effort in the same circumstances, and the Potters were now well in control.
That soon became total control as they doubled their advantage when Whelan fights past two uncommitted defenders and plays in Tuncay. The Turkish captain cuts inside past a couple of defenders before lashing past Given from 8 yards and sealing a fantastic win for Stoke.
The game then continued to flow from end to end in the second period of extra time with Richards heading wide when well placed and both Wright-Phillips and Santa Cruz testing Sorenson whilst Whitehead and Tuncay show wide when give the chance to seal the game and Kitson seeing an effort superbly blocked by Richards after it seemed certain to find the net but the Potters had done more than enough to get the win and reach a first FA Cup quarter final in 38 years.