By Victor Kanayo
It was a day of goals for Algerian International, Riyad Mahrez, who scored a hat-trick for Manchester City, which ensured that Sheffield United succumbed to a 0-3 defeat in the semi-final of FA Cup on Saturday April 22, 2023.
The victory ensured that City reached the final of the age-long English competition.
How City trounced Sheffield
First, Mahrez broke the deadline against a resilient Sheffield in the 42nd-minute, after a well-taken penalty before the first half ended.
City turned out big and ragged in a furnace format, as the second half begun.
Later on, Mahrez ran through a parting defence, just after the hour mark to add his second before sweeping in a fine third in the 66th minute from Jack Grealish’s cross to leave City supporters dreaming of a historic treble.
It could have been different, had Sheffield United top scorer Iliman Ndiaye not shot straight at Stefan Ortega, when the ball fell to him inside the six-yard box with just two minutes on the clock.
The Championship side, also felt hard done by when 19-year-old Daniel Jebbison, was punished for the penalty, his lash at the ball was rash but he appeared to make contact with it before bringing down Bernardo Silva.
But in the end, City had too much for the promotion-chasing Blades, and Pep Guardiola’s side will now face either Manchester United or Brighton for the trophy on June 3.
City had lost at the semi-final stage of this competition three years running but their FA Cup final appearance will form part of their hunt for three trophies at the end of this season.
Back to Premier League Title Chase, crucial date with Real Madrid
Manchester City will now host struggling leaders Arsenal in a crucial game at the Etihad on Wednesday night.
In May, City will battle Real Madrid in a Champions League semi-final clash.
With the all-important encounter, they will aim to replicate the 1998/99 treble heroics of their neighbours Manchester United, bearing in mind that the same Madrid with a 14-time Champions League record sent them away at the same stage of the competition last year.
