Lightning does happen to strike twice. As in last year's euphoric FA Cup final, Wigan stunned and embarrassed an under-par Manchester City, completely deserving to progress to a Wembley semi-final.
Jordi Gomez scored a first half penalty before James Perch was allowed to nudge in a second as the Latics booked their fourth glamorous trip to north London in under a year.
Samir Nasri's strike set up a nervous final 20 minutes but City - who had eyes on a domestic treble before this - just couldn't get going.
It all means that Uwe Rosler's side will now face Arsenal in the semi-final at Wembley, capping a special day for the manager himself as he returned to City - a club where he is seen as a cult figure.
Cool as you like: Jordi Gomez scored the opening goal for the visitors as they tried to spring a surprise
Oops! Martin Demichelis stumbled over Marc-Antoine Fortune to give away the penalty
Eyes on the prize: The Manchester City goalkeeper couldn't do anything about diving the wrong way
Lightning twice? Gomez was mobbed by James Perch and James McArthur in celebration
Oops! Martin Demichelis stumbled over Marc-Antoine Fortune to give away the penalty
Eyes on the prize: The Manchester City goalkeeper couldn't do anything about diving the wrong way
Lightning twice? Gomez was mobbed by James Perch and James McArthur in celebration
MATCH FACTS
- Manchester City: Pantilimon 5; Richards 5, Demichelis 5, Lescott 5, Clichy 5; Toure 5 (Silva 53, 6), Garcia 5; Navas 6 (Milner 53, 7), Aguero 6, Nasri 6; Negredo 5 (Dzeko 53, 5).
- Subs not used: Hart, Kompany, Kolarov, Rodwell
- Goal: Nasri 68
- Bookings: Nasri, Toure, Milner, Dzeko
- Wigan Athletic: Carson 6; Perch 7, Boyce 8, Ramis 7, Crainey 7; McArthur 7; McEachran 7 (Espinoza 66, 6); McCann 7 (Barnett 46), Gomez 7, McManaman 8 (McClean 58, 7), Fortune 7
- Subs not used: Al Habsi, Rogne, Holgersson, Maynard
- Goals: Gomez 27 (pen), Perch 47
- Booking: Barnett, Carson, Espinoza
- Referee: Anthony Taylor 7
- Att: 46,824
*Ratings by IAN LADYMAN at the Etihad Stadium
'It was hard, we knew they'd chuck everything at us,' captain Emmerson Boyce told BT Sport. 'It was tough, everyone was tired. Thank God we hung on.
'We hold this trophy for a little bit longer.'
It was a familiar villain who found himself the centre of problems. Martin Demichelis did nothing to shake his liability tag at the heart of City's defence as he got himself in a tangle when Marc-Antoine Fortune broke free.
The striker felt contact as the pair's legs came together, fell to the floor, and Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot.
Jordi Gomez is calmness personified from 12 yards and sent Costel Pantilimon the wrong way to open the scoring.
It's not unreasonable to have thought the hosts would come out after the break all guns blazing, but they were left shell-shocked within seconds.
James McArthur picked up the ball just inside the final third, drove on purposefully into the box before driving a ball across towards the back post.
There, it seemed as if Gael Clichy would mop up and clear. But Perch stole a march, dangling a leg in front of the left-back and poking past Pantilimon to send the travelling contingent behind that goal into delirium.
Manuel Pellegrini had seen enough, looked to his bench, and almost immediately made a triple substitution.
On came Edin Dzeko, James Milner and David Silva. Dzeko agonisingly headed against a post. Sergio Aguero fired straight at Scott Carson when he should have scored. It didn't look as if they'd ever find a way through before Nasri fired beyond Nasri from 25 yards to half the deficit.
Boyce made a monstrous clearance underneath his own crossbar as Dzeko looked for all the world to be equalising as City battered their Championship opposition in the final 20 minutes. Bodies were flung at everything and every sinew of legs stretched as Wigan somehow held on.
Break: James McArthur made a dart into the box to allow Perch to score Wigan's second goal
Nipped in: James Perch got ahead of Gael Clichy to score Wigan's second goal just after half-time
Dreamland: Callum McManaman enthusiastically celebrates in front of the Wigan support with Perch
Foot through it! Samir Nasri smashed in from 25 yards for City to set up a tense final quarter
Rush back! Nasri went straight for the ball in the back of the net so that Wigan could restart quickly
Fashion: Manuel Pellegrini was rocking a club-branded hoodie in the dugout alongside Brian Kidd
Dejection: There looked as if there would be no way back for the Premier League side
Enjoying their day: Wigan supporters travelled to the Etihad Stadium in their thousands
Quick as he can: Sergio Aguero races beyond Emmerson Boyce as the hosts tried to press for chances
See you later! Gael Clichy skips past James Perch attacking down the left hand side
Welcome back! Wigan boss Uwe Rosler was given a rousing reception as he returned to City
Struggle: City midfielder Samir Nasri failed to really get going for Pellegrini's side
All arms and elbows! Spanish midfielder Javi Garcia clashes with Callum McManaman
Thumbs up: Alvaro Negredo didn't look too flustered as City found themselves behind
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