📰 Table Of Contents
Match report
Manchester City kept hopes of a historic treble come the season’s close alive and well on Saturday, courtesy of a comfortable victory over Sheffield United.
Pep Guardiola’s troops of course marked their return to action a short time ago.
Fresh off seeing their Premier League title hopes boosted by way of Arsenal’s shock stalemate with Southampton, the Sky Blues turned their attentions towards matters in the FA Cup, in a semi-final showdown with Championship outfit Sheffield United.
And, when all was said and done, top-flight quality proved telling.
Riyad Mahrez proved himself the undisputed star of the show, notching all three of Man City’s goals, en route to an eventual 3-0 result.
After kicking the scoring into gear from the penalty spot late in the first-half, Mahrez doubled his tally for the evening in style, courtesy of a trademark solo run and finish:
What a run 😳@Mahrez22 with an incredible solo goal!#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/u4jIRAlGYc
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 22, 2023
Hat-trick hero 🎩@Mahrez22 scores the first FA Cup semi-final treble since 1958 🤯#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/uQmIBRV9jJ
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 22, 2023
For Sheffield United, Saturday’s Wembley clash marked the end of a memorable cup run, amid what has proven an excellent campaign all round.
For Manchester City, though, the pursuit of history remains very much intact, ahead of an FA Cup finale meeting with one of Brighton & Hove Albion, or city rivals Man United.
Player ratings
Manchester City
Stefan Ortega – 6
Kyle Walker – 6
Manuel Akanji – 6.5
Aymeric Laporte – 6
Bernardo Silva – 6.5
Ilkay Gundogan – 6.5
Sergio Gomez – 6
Riyad Mahrez – 9.5
Julian Alvarez – 5.5
Jack Grealish – 7
Erling Haaland – 5.5
Sheffield United
Wes Foderingham – 5
Anel Ahmedhodzic – 5
John Egan – 6
Jack Robinson – 5.5
George Baldock – 5.5
Sander Berge – 6
Oliver Norwood – 7
John Fleck – 5
Max Lowe – 5
Daniel Jebbison – 5.5
Iliman Ndiaye – 4.5
Fan reaction
Haaland’s unquantifiable gravity and Mahrez exploits it, and again. https://t.co/Q5miK1t3Jl pic.twitter.com/nhbqluzCfO
— Umir (@umirf1) April 22, 2023
Mahrez caught the Haaland virus. #FACup #ManCity
— Son of Man (@Blackfranchiz) April 22, 2023
beautiful assist and rest before we destroy arsenal, another good day for grealish hive pic.twitter.com/oo9qScEbMc
— 🦃 (@grealyeo) April 22, 2023
City is a cheat code! If they win the treble they will be remembered as the strongest PL team ever! I still choose United 2008 tho
— OK (@DavidDeGoat1) April 22, 2023
Can’t see anyone stopping City winning the treble! That’s gonna sting
— John Ellis Painting & Decorating (@lambert_ellis) April 22, 2023
Anybody not bothered by a very possible City treble need to question themselves. Rather see Arsenal win the league and Madrid or the Milan clubs win the CL
— Sham #Palestine🇵🇸 (@LFC_RedBlooded) April 22, 2023
This has worked out perfectly for City. Everybody left on the pitch now needs the minutes. All those who have played a lot recently went off ages ago. Guardiola said City were exhausted on Weds because they didn’t play enough short passes. Here it was nothing but short passes
— Sam Lee (@SamLee) April 22, 2023
Best stats
HT: Man City 1-0 Sheffield United
Shots: 5-4
Shots on target: 2-1
Big chances: 1-1
Possession: 80%-20%
Corners: 7-1Riyad Mahrez’s penalty gives City the lead at the break. ⚽#EmiratesFACup
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) April 22, 2023
In the first half against Man City, Oliver Norwood ranked Top for:
💥 Tackles attempted (3)
✅ Tackles won (3)
✂️ Interceptions (3)
💢 Fouls (1)Disrupter. 👊 pic.twitter.com/R9jwbshydi
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 22, 2023
◉ 43′
◉ 61′
◉ 66′Riyad Mahrez is the first player to score a hat-trick in an FA Cup semi-final since Alex Dawson for Manchester United in a replay vs Fulham at Highbury in 1958. 🎩 pic.twitter.com/vSVOYDCjNu
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) April 22, 2023
Riyad Mahrez has now scored 4 goals in the FA Cup this season, that’s more than any other Man City player.
Cup fever. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/WGqcGV40zP
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 22, 2023
Riyad Mahrez has now scored nine FA Cup goals for Man City:
Third round: ⚽⚽⚽
Fourth round: ⚽⚽
Fifth round: ⚽⚽
QF: ⚽
SF: ⚽Just a goal in the final needed to complete the set. 😀 pic.twitter.com/MpxLaHo0IW
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) April 22, 2023
In 1999, Manchester United became the first English side to win the PL, FA Cup & UCL.
◉ 2nd in the Premier League
◉ UCL semi-final
◉ FA Cup final24 years later, the Blue side of the city could become the second.🔵 pic.twitter.com/WWj5aXMYKV
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 22, 2023
