Mahrez hat-trick sends Man City into FA Cup final

LONDON: Riyad Mahrez scored a hat-trick as Manchester City snapped their losing streak in FA Cup semi-finals with a 3-0 stroll over second-tier Sheffield United at Wembley on Saturday (Apr 22).

After exiting at the semi-final stage for the last three seasons, Pep Guardiola's treble-chasing side were not about to suffer the same fate and won without requiring top gear.

Championship promotion hopefuls United began brightly and frustrated City for most of the first half but Mahrez fired City ahead from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute.

Mahrez then waltzed through some flimsy defending to make it 2-0 in the 61st minute and completed his hat-trick five minutes later with a clinical finish from Jack Grealish's low cross.

It was the first FA Cup semi-final hat-trick since Alex Dawson for Manchester United against Fulham in 1958.

"The quality of Riyad we have seen for many years in this country, also with Leicester," Guardiola said of a player not always guaranteed a starting place at City.

"He is a huge mentality competitor. Huge ambition to score goals. Scoring at the end of the first half was so important."

City have not conceded a goal and scored 17 in reaching their 12th FA Cup final in which they could face Manchester United in what would be the showpiece's first Manchester clash.

United are up against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

With the tie safely in the bag, Guardiola substituted Grealish and goal machine Erling Haaland with one eye on Wednesday's looming Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

City are also in the semi-finals of the Champions League where they will face Spanish holders Real Madrid.

It proved a disappointing day for Sheffield United who last won the FA Cup almost 100 years ago, although the Yorkshire club's