Mahrez hat-trick fires City into the FA Cup final

The winger gave us a first-half lead from the penalty spot before striking two sumptuous strikes in the space of five second-half minutes.

His second was a brilliant individual effort as he carved through the Blades’ defence to score before claiming a third with a first-time strike from Jack Grealish’s cross.  

The win secured our place in the FA Cup final for the first time since 2019 and kept us in the chase for three trophies this season.

WHAT HAPPENED

After saying his players were too exhausted to even celebrate reaching the Champions League semi-finals following our 4-1 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich on Wednesday, Pep Guardiola made six changes to his starting line-up.

But we were almost caught out in the opening moments when, from a corner, the ball dropped to Illiman Ndiaye but his effort was quickly smothered by the alert Stefan Ortega Moreno.

The Championship side made a confident start despite City controlling possession and playing high up the pitch, although Haaland had the ball in the back of the net after 15 minutes with a 30-yard drive that was chalked off as referee Stuart Attwell gave a foul in the build-up.

Blades keeper Wes Foderingham was at full-stretch for a smart save to turn Julian Alvarez’s curling effort around the post as City patiently tried to create opportunities.

Despite enjoying 80% possession, City looked like they might be frustrated before half-time with Bernardo and Mahrez both out of luck with efforts from distance.

But they were presented with a golden opportunity three minutes before the break when Bernardo was caught by Daniel Jebbison’s swiping challenge inside the box. Mahrez stepped up to send Foderingham the wrong way from the spot with the cooly-taken penalty.

SHOP THE RIYAD MAHREZ RANGE

It was a similar pattern in the second half as City continued to push forward in search of more goals with the well-organised Blades soaking up the pressure.

Haaland went close from a deflected Sergio Gomez strike and Alvarez fired over from the edge of the box.

A second finally came on the hour with a brilliant run from Mahrez who scythed through the Sheffield United backline before calmly sidefooting past the onrushing keeper.

And he had his hat-trick with a delightfully-taken finish to turn in Grealish’s cross five minutes later.

The cushion gave Guardiola the opportunity to take out some of his starters from the win in Germany in midweek with Haaland, Grealish, Gundogan and Bernardo replaced.

Alvarez went close to a fourth in injury time after good work from Phil Foden but his effort drifted just wide of the post.

MAN OF THE MATCH

In the tension of a tight semi-final when chances were few and far between, Mahrez was the coolest man inside Wembley.

The Algerian winger stayed tight to the touchline to stretch the Championship’s side well-organised defence, but when he cut inside he was devastating.

His first came from the spot but his second was pure Mahrez magic as he cut through the defence and finished with style.

A third followed shortly after with a controlled finish from Grealish’s pull-back to complete the first FA Cup semi-final hat-trick since 1958 and the first by a City player at Wembley.

TEAMS

CITY XI: Ortega Moreno, Walker, Akanji, Laporte, Gomez, Gundogan (Phillips 75), Bernardo (Lewis 82), Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish (Palmer 67), Haaland (Foden 68)

Subs: Ederson, Dias, Stones, Rodrigo, De Bruyne

SHEFF UTD XI: Foderingham, Ahmedhodzic (Coulibaly 76), Egan, Robinson, Baldock (Bogle 76), Berge (Basham 75), Norwood, Fleck (Sharp 66), Lowe, Jebbison (McBurnie 58), Ndiaye.

Subs: Davies, Clark, Arblaster, Brooks

WHAT IT MEANS

City are back in the FA Cup final for the first time since winning the trophy in 2019 when we beat Watford 6-0.

The final will be at Wembley on Saturday 3 June with the kick-off time still to be confirmed.

We will face either Manchester United or Brighton and Hove Albion with the second semi-final taking place on Sunday.

WHAT’S NEXT

We return to Premier League action on Wednesday 26 April when we face Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium with a 20:00 (UK) kick-off.

It gives City the chance to close the gap on the Gunners who are currently five points clear of City at the top of the Premier League having played two games more.