Riyad Mahrez bagged a hat-trick as Manchester City advanced to the FA Cup final with a 3-0 victory over Sheffield United on Saturday.
FA Cup
Result: Manchester City 3-0 Sheffield United
Date: 22 April 2023
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Pep Guardiola made a host of changes after the UEFA Champions League action midweek, with Stefan Ortega, Kyle Walker, Aymeric Laporte, Sergio Gomez, Riyad Mahrez and Julian Alvarez recalled.
The Citizens dominated early on but it was United who had the first sight at goal as Senegal international Iliman Ndiaye showed good control before forcing Ortega into a fine save after just five minutes.
City had to wait until the 20-minute mark for their first sight at goal as Alvarez saw his curling effort pushed away by goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, as Guardiola's side upped the tempo.
Guardiola looked frustrated on the touchline as his side had all the possession but were not able to carve out any serious openings in the Sheffield 18-yard area.
However, all of Sheffield's hard work was undone five minutes before the break after being awarded a penalty for Daniel Jebbison's foul on Bernado Silva. Mahrez stepped up instead of Erling Haaland and buried the ball into the bottom corner.
Haaland almost doubled the Premier League side's lead ten minutes after the break but turned his shot into the side-netting after getting on the end of Gomez's deflected effort.
The second goal did arrive a few minutes later when Mahrez won possession high up the pitch, skipped past two defenders and calmly slotted home to complete his brace.
Mahrez went on to complete his hat-trick in the 67th minute with a first-time finish from Jack Grealish's cross, becoming the first player to do so in a semi-final since 1958.
Guardiola's charges were able to able to see out the closing stages relative ease and he was also able to withdraw the likes of Grealish, Illkay Gundogan and Haaland ahead of Wednesday's clash against Arsenal.
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