Riyad Mahrez scored a hat-trick as Manchester City snapped its shedding streak in FA Cup semi-finals with a 3-0 stroll over second-tier Sheffield United at Wembley on Saturday.
After exiting on the semi-final stage for the final three seasons, Pep Guardiola’s treble-chasing facet was not about to endure the identical destiny and received with out requiring prime gear.
Championship promotion hopefuls United started brightly and annoyed City for a lot of the first half however Mahrez fired City forward from the penalty spot within the forty third minute.
Mahrez then waltzed by way of some flimsy defending to make it 2-0 within the 61st minute and accomplished his hat-trick 5 minutes later with a scientific end from Jack Grealish’s low cross.
It was the primary FA Cup semi-final hat-trick since Alex Dawson for Manchester United towards Fulham in 1958.
City has not conceded a aim in reaching the FA Cup last for a twelfth time the place it might face Manchester United in what can be the primary all-Manchester conflict within the showpiece.
United is up towards Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.
With the tie safely within the bag, Guardiola substituted Grealish and aim machine Erling Haaland with one eye on Wednesday’s looming Premier League showdown with Arsenal.
City can be within the semi-finals of the Champions League the place it would face Spanish holder Real Madrid.
It proved a disappointing day for Sheffield United who final received the FA Cup nearly 100 years in the past, though the Yorkshire membership’s precedence will likely be sealing promotion again to the highest flight after being relegated in 2021.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com