Reading stood in the way of a first Wembley meeting between Sir Alex Ferguson's United and the club he brands the "noisy neighbours" - and they did it to great effect and with total commitment until Richards gave City the victory they deserved.
Roberto Mancini's side were frustrated for long periods at Eastlands, but also did enough to keep Reading's outstanding keeper Alex McCarthy busy as he produced a succession of fine saves and crucial blocks.
Reading's chances were few and far between, and even though they were unable to produce the heroics thatshocked Everton at Goodison Park in the last round, they still emerged with great credit in defeat.
City were occasionally laboured, perhaps jaded afterThursday's trip to Dynamo Kiev that ended in Europa League defeat, and Italian manager Mancini will be relieved to have at least delivered a Wembley appearance - and the club's first FA Cup semi-final since 1981 - as part of a return on his vast investment in City's squad.
And as City chase their first major trophy since 1976's League Cup win against Newcastle United, the prospect of United standing in their way makes the semi-final date at Wembley a mouth-watering prospect that will fire Manchester's imagination.
David Silva was the inspiration behind City's win, but Carlos Tevez was also heavily involved and his presence as captain will add another layer of intrigue to the meeting with former club United after heleft Old Trafford in such contentious circumstances.
Tevez took his place in City's attack, with Mancini keeping plenty back in reserve on the bench in the shape of Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli, who had presumably recovered from the allergic reaction he had to the pitch during the Europa League loss in Kiev.
Reading had a glimpse of an opportunity early on when Noel Hunt headed over but soon the traffic was travelling all one way as City exerted pressure without ever creating serious panic in the Royals rearguard.
Reading keeper McCarthy, outstanding in the win at Everton, soon distinguished himself again with a double stop to deny Yaya Toure and Silva. He thwarted another effort from the Spaniard when Silva, the first half's outstanding performer, showed a delicate touch in the area before firing too close to McCarthy.
Silva was once more the creator to send Toure racing clear but McCarthy was equal to the task as the giant midfield man bore down on goal.
Having survived until the interval, Reading almost let their good work go to waste in the opening moments of the second half. Shane Long deflected Aleksandar Kolarov's corner towards his own goal and was relieved to see Jay Tabb standing sentry at the far post to head off the line.
Silva was again the driving force behind City's best moves. He evaded the Reading defence with another jinking run into the box to find Tevez but the Argentine's clever flick was blocked by McCarthy.
Another Kolarov corner caused problems as Richards won a header but his downward effort bounced at a comfortable height for McCarthy to turn over the top.
Reading, so resolute at the back, broke clear to give City a rare anxious moment after 67 minutes. Jimmy Kebe easily outstripped Toure but Long's shot carried little pace or power and the virtually unemployed Joe Hart saved with ease.
City's breakthrough finally came with 16 minutes remaining. Silva's corner, won by Balotelli after his introduction from the bench, was inviting but it still took a fine header from the incoming Richards to end the stalemate.
Reading pushed forward in an attempt to force a replay but in vain, leaving Eastlands to relish that Wembley meeting with United.
90:00+4:52 The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00+3:50 Free kick awarded for a foul by Hal Robson-Kanu on Carlos Tevez. Carlos Tevez takes the free kick.
90:00+2:16 Substitution Dedryk Boyata comes on in place of Shaun Wright-Phillips.
90:00+1:17 Ian Harte produces a cross, clearance by Vincent Kompany.
88:57 Free kick awarded for a foul by Gareth Barry on Brian Howard. Free kick taken by Alex McCarthy.
88:34 Shot by Mario Balotelli. Blocked by Brynjar Gunnarsson.
85:37 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Brian Howard from the right by-line, Gareth Barry manages to make a clearance.
85:24 Substitution Brian Howard on for Jay Tabb.
84:02 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Carlos Tevez by Jimmy Kebe. Free kick taken by Aleksandar Kolarov.
83:15 Gnegneri Toure Yaya takes a shot. Save by Alex McCarthy.
83:09 The ball is sent over by David Silva, Zurab Khizanishvili makes a clearance.
82:07 Substitution Nigel De Jong leaves the field to be replaced by Gareth Barry.
81:20 Gnegneri Toure Yaya gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Hal Robson-Kanu. The ball is delivered by Ian Harte, Header by Brynjar Gunnarsson from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.
79:38 Corner taken left-footed by Ian Harte from the right by-line, Aleksandar Kolarov makes a clearance.
79:27 The ball is crossed by Jay Tabb, clearance made by Mario Balotelli.
78:50 Jem Karacan delivers the ball, clearance made by Joleon Lescott.
78:30 Jimmy Kebe sends in a cross, blocked by David Silva.
78:03 Free kick awarded for a foul by Nigel De Jong on Jimmy Kebe. Free kick taken by Ian Harte.
76:43 David Silva delivers the ball, clearance made by Brynjar Gunnarsson.
75:24 Jem Karacan challenges Mario Balotelli unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Carlos Tevez.
75:24 Substitution Simon Church comes on in place of Noel Hunt.
73:45 David Silva takes a outswinging corner to the near post, assist on the goal came from David Silva.
73:45 GOAL - Micah Richards:Man City 1 - 0 Reading Micah Richards finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Man City 1-0 Reading.
71:32 Free kick awarded for a foul by Mikele Leigertwood on Aleksandar Kolarov. Mario Balotelli takes the free kick.
68:12 Unfair challenge on Patrick Vieira by Shane Long results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Joleon Lescott.
68:12 Substitution Mario Balotelli is brought on as a substitute for Patrick Vieira.
68:12 Booking The referee shows Shane Long a yellow card.
67:12 Shane Long takes a shot. Comfortable save by Joe Hart.
66:38 The ball is swung over by Carlos Tevez, Brynjar Gunnarsson makes a clearance.
65:47 Corner taken left-footed by David Silva from the right by-line, save made by Alex McCarthy.
65:07 Corner taken by Aleksandar Kolarov from the left by-line, Micah Richards takes a shot. Alex McCarthy makes a save.
64:20 Foul by Patrick Vieira on Jay Tabb, free kick awarded. Ian Harte takes the free kick.
62:15 Hal Robson-Kanu crosses the ball.
61:06 Substitution Hal Robson-Kanu joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jobi McAnuff.
60:29 The ball is crossed by Gnegneri Toure Yaya, Alex McCarthy makes a save.
59:20 A cross is delivered by Carlos Tevez.
57:23 Shot from just outside the box by Carlos Tevez misses to the right of the target.
56:38 Mikele Leigertwood challenges Carlos Tevez unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Carlos Tevez.
55:38 Shaun Wright-Phillips delivers the ball, Carlos Tevez takes a shot. Brynjar Gunnarsson gets a block in. Aleksandar Kolarov has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the goal.
54:40 Foul by Shane Long on Joleon Lescott, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Joe Hart.
53:11 Noel Hunt produces a cross.
52:05 Foul by Micah Richards on Jobi McAnuff, free kick awarded. Ian Harte takes the direct free kick.
52:05 Booking Micah Richards is cautioned.
51:46 Carlos Tevez takes a shot. Save by Alex McCarthy.
50:56 The ball is crossed by Jimmy Kebe, blocked by Nigel De Jong.
50:16 Effort from deep inside the area by Noel Hunt misses to the right of the goal.
49:37 Jobi McAnuff challenges Nigel De Jong unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Joe Hart.
48:56 Jobi McAnuff takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Patrick Vieira makes a clearance.
48:48 Jobi McAnuff crosses the ball, Vincent Kompany makes a clearance.
48:25 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jobi McAnuff by Patrick Vieira. Free kick taken by Ian Harte.
46:04 Aleksandar Kolarov takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Jay Tabb.
45:57 The ball is delivered by Shaun Wright-Phillips, Ian Harte gets a block in.
45:16 Free kick awarded for a foul by Noel Hunt on Joleon Lescott. Direct free kick taken by David Silva.
45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
Half Time
45:00+2:05 The referee blows for half time.
45:00+1:57 David Silva sends in a cross, Alex McCarthy makes a save.
45:00+1:14 The ball is swung over by Aleksandar Kolarov, clearance made by Zurab Khizanishvili.
45:00+0:21 Jimmy Kebe delivers the ball, save made by Joe Hart.
43:56 Shot from outside the box by David Silva misses to the left of the goal.
43:44 Gnegneri Toure Yaya takes a shot. Blocked by Mikele Leigertwood.
43:19 Carlos Tevez takes a shot. Zurab Khizanishvili gets a block in.
42:39 Shot by Gnegneri Toure Yaya from a long way out goes over the crossbar.
41:52 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Patrick Vieira by Mikele Leigertwood. Carlos Tevez restarts play with the free kick.
41:13 Shane Long is adjudged to have handled the ball. Joleon Lescott restarts play with the free kick.
38:55 David Silva sends in a cross.
37:46 Corner taken left-footed by Aleksandar Kolarov from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Shane Long.
37:41 Aleksandar Kolarov delivers the ball, clearance made by Zurab Khizanishvili.
36:32 David Silva takes a shot. Alex McCarthy makes a comfortable save.
34:25 Jimmy Kebe concedes a free kick for a foul on Shaun Wright-Phillips. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Carlos Tevez from left channel, clearance made by Brynjar Gunnarsson.
33:21 The referee penalises Noel Hunt for handball. Direct free kick taken by Aleksandar Kolarov.
32:16 Corner taken by David Silva from the right by-line, Patrick Vieira concedes a free kick for a foul on Brynjar Gunnarsson. Alex McCarthy takes the direct free kick.
31:55 Centre by David Silva, save made by Alex McCarthy.
31:13 The referee blows for offside against Gnegneri Toure Yaya. Alex McCarthy takes the free kick.
30:49 Unfair challenge on Aleksandar Kolarov by Jimmy Kebe results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Joe Hart.
30:35 Unfair challenge on Jobi McAnuff by Shaun Wright-Phillips results in a free kick. Mikele Leigertwood takes the direct free kick.
29:56 David Silva gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Brynjar Gunnarsson. Alex McCarthy takes the free kick.
29:01 Aleksandar Kolarov is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Mikele Leigertwood takes the direct free kick.
28:35 Gnegneri Toure Yaya takes a shot. Alex McCarthy makes a save.
27:03 Shane Long sends in a cross, save by Joe Hart.
25:19 Zurab Khizanishvili gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Carlos Tevez. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Aleksandar Kolarov.
24:12 Jimmy Kebe produces a cross.
23:34 Shaun Wright-Phillips has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.
20:52 Jimmy Kebe crosses the ball, Joe Hart makes a save.
20:08 Corner taken by David Silva from the right by-line, Alex McCarthy makes a comfortable save.
19:02 Booking Vincent Kompany goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
18:31 Shaun Wright-Phillips takes a shot. Save by Alex McCarthy. David Silva takes a shot. Save by Alex McCarthy.
14:59 Jobi McAnuff crosses the ball, Noel Hunt produces a header from close range which goes wide of the left-hand post.
14:51 The ball is sent over by Jimmy Kebe.
14:27 The official flags Shaun Wright-Phillips offside. Alex McCarthy takes the indirect free kick.
11:32 Mikele Leigertwood concedes a free kick for a foul on Patrick Vieira. Joleon Lescott takes the direct free kick.
10:36 Shane Long fouled by Vincent Kompany, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Ian Harte.
8:42 Corner taken by Aleksandar Kolarov.
6:03 Shane Long challenges Aleksandar Kolarov unfairly and gives away a free kick. Joe Hart takes the direct free kick.
5:34 Corner taken right-footed by Jobi McAnuff, clearance by Aleksandar Kolarov.
5:27 Jobi McAnuff produces a cross, clearance by Joleon Lescott.
4:31 Vincent Kompany challenges Noel Hunt unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ian Harte crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance made by Nigel De Jong.
4:03 Jem Karacan delivers the ball, Vincent Kompany manages to make a clearance.
3:39 Foul by Shaun Wright-Phillips on Jay Tabb, free kick awarded. Ian Harte restarts play with the free kick.
0:00 The match gets underway.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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