RIYAD Mahrez scored a hat-trick tonight at Wembley to lead Manchester City past Sheffield United into the final of the FA Cup with a comfortable 3-0 win.
The Algeria forward’s treble is the first hat-trick in an FA Cup semi-final since 1958, when Alex Dawson achieved the feat for Manchester United.
After a solid start by Championship high-flyers Sheffield United, who are on course for automatic promotion to the Premier League, Mahrez struck from the penalty spot two minutes before half-time.
Mahrez converted after Daniel Jebbison fouled Bernardo Silva in the Sheffield United box, and he made it 2-0 just after the hour mark with a brilliant solo effort, running through the second-tier club’s defence from deep in midfield to slot home.
He completed the historic hat-trick in the 66th minute with a close-range finish from Jack Grealish’s low cross.
City, who are chasing a treble of Premier League, UEFA Champions League and FA Cup trophies, rested several players in the starting line-up and took off Erling Haaland, Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan ahead of Wednesday’s potential title decider against Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola’s side are now in the FA Cup final, where they will face either Manchester United or Brighton, the Champions League semi-finals, and are second in the Premier League, five points behind Arsenal with two games in hand.
