Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Manchester City ended their losing streak in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday at Wembley with a 3-0 win over second division Sheffield United. Algerian player Riyad Mahrez scored all three times.
Guardiola’s side secured a place in the FA Cup final after a three-year wait. Pep Guardiola’s side, who hadn’t reached the semi-finals in the last three seasons, were determined not to repeat the same mistakes and secured victory.
Sheffield United, who were fighting for promotion, started the game strongly and managed to hold off City’s attacks for most of the first half. However, in the 43rd minute, Mahrez opened the scoring for City, scoring from the penalty spot. The Algerian winger exploited some poor defending to increase City’s lead to 2-0 in the 61st minute, before completing his hat-trick just five minutes later.
The last player to score a hat-trick in an FA Cup semi-final was Alex Dawson in 1958, scoring for Manchester United against Fulham. After 65 years, Mahrez repeated the feat for City.
City managed to keep a clean sheet in every FA Cup match this season and qualified for the final, for the twelfth time, where they could face Manchester United, leading to the first all-Manchester final.
Meanwhile, Manchester United will play Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday as they continue their quest for promotion.
For Sheffield United, who last won the FA Cup almost a century ago, it was a disappointing day. However, the team’s main objective remains to secure a return to the top flight after being relegated in 2021.