Cardiff continued the run of FA Cup upsets Sunday with a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough, putting the Welsh team in the semifinals of the English competition for the first time since it won in 1927.
Peter Whittingham and Roger Johnson scored at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium for Cardiff, the only non-English team to have won the trophy.
Julio Arca of Middlesbrough, left, appeals to an official as Cardiff players mob Peter Whittingham after his first goal Sunday.
(Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
West Bromwich Albion joined fellow second-division side Cardiff in the semifinals with a 5-1 win at third-division club Bristol Rovers, led by three goals from Ishmael Miller.
Portsmouth is the only Premier League club in the FA Cup semifinals with Barnsley, also of the second division, taking the other berth.
Cardiff went ahead in the ninth minute, when Whittingham took a long throw from Tony Capaldi and curled a shot into the top corner. Referee Mike Dean dismissed claims from Middlesbrough players that a Cardiff player had touched the ball with his hand on its way into the box.
The Bluebirds doubled their lead in the 22nd minute when Roger Johnson headed in a free kick from Whittingham.
Middlesbrough, which lost to Chelsea in the 1997 FA Cup final, is ranked 12th in the Premier League. Cardiff is 14th in the League Championship.
"We played some good football and defended when we had to. The win was thoroughly deserved and we performed fantastically," Cardiff manager Dave Jones said. "I don't think Middlesbrough can have any complaints.
"We knew if we played to our potential we would have a chance and we got what we deserved."
Miller scored in the 30th, 69th and 85th minutes to help West Brom reach the semifinals for the first time since 1982.
James Morrison had put West Brom ahead in the 16th minute from a cross from Roman Bednar. Kevin Phillips scored West Brom's fourth goal in the 73rd.
Bristol Rovers pulled a goal back through Danny Coles in the 32nd.
West Brom is fourth in the League Championship and challenging for promotion to the Premier League. Rovers are in 17th place in League One, a division below.
West Brom has won the FA Cup five times — the most of any club still left in the competition.
Barnsley and Portsmouth both reached the semifinals Saturday with upsets. Portsmouth's 1-0 win was its first at Manchester United in 51 years, while Barnsley beat Chelsea by the same margin, proving its elimination of Liverpool in the previous round was no fluke. The semifinals draw is set for Monday.
