West Ham United's Frederic Piquionne (left) beats Stoke City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen to score a goal during their English FA Cup quarterfinal at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke on Trent, yesterday. Stoke won 2-1.

Stoke City stayed on course for a first-ever appearance in the English FA Cup final when it beat West Ham United 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium yesterday.

Stoke went ahead with a Robert Huth header from a long Rory Delap throw after 12 minutes before Frederic Piquionne equalized for the Hammers with a controversial goal as he appeared to control the ball with his arm in the build-up.

Former West Ham winger Matthew Etherington had a 47th-minute penalty saved after he was adjudged to have been tripped by Scott Parker, before Danny Higginbotham smashed a free-kick through the West Ham wall in the 63rd for what proved to be the winner.

Stoke hung on to reach the semifinals for the first time since 1972.

Manchester City was playing Championship (second division) side Reading in the day's other quarterfinal after Manchester United beat Arsenal and Bolton Wanderers went past Birmingham City in Saturday's matches.

United kept its treble dreams alive by knocking Arsenal out five days after the London side's Champions League exit thanks to a deserved 2-0 win at Old Trafford.

Goals from Fabio da Silva after 28 minutes and a 49th-minute header from Wayne Rooney put United through to a record 27th semifinal which will be at Wembley Stadium next month.

The victory was a huge boost for Alex Ferguson's English Premier League leader before its Champions League last-16 second leg against Olympique Marseille back at Old Trafford tomorrow after two successive League defeats by Chelsea and Liverpool. United will be aiming to reach the quarterfinals of Europe's premier competition after a goalless draw in the first leg three weeks ago to keep alive the chance of repeating its European Cup, FA Cup and Premier League treble of 1999.

For Arsenal the night ended in yet more disappointment following its elimination from the Champions League by Barcelona last Tuesday and its defeat by Birmingham City in the League Cup final at Wembley on February 27.