Hat trick Hero Mahrez Sends Manchester City to FA Cup Final

Last Updated on September 11, 2023 by SPN Editor

London (SPN) | Manchester City has comfortably entered the FA Cup final. They defeated Sheffield United in the semi-final with a 3-0 victory. It was the breathtaking hat trick delivered by the brilliant Riyad Mahrez.

The Algerian winger proved to be too hot to handle for Sheffield’s defense as he netted three goals to send City through to their first FA Cup final since 2019.

Mahrez initiated the scoring for Manchester City through a penalty kick just before the end of the first half. He then proceeded to strike twice more in the second half, including a magnificent solo endeavor that exemplified his exceptional dribbling abilities and composed finishing in the face of the opposition’s defense.

Pep Guardiola made the decision to rest several pivotal members of his squad, including Kevin De Bruyne, Rúben Dias, Rodri, John Stones, and Ederson, in preparation for their critical Premier League match against Arsenal during midweek.

Despite their absence, the team’s performance remained unimpeded, as outstanding individuals like Mahrez, Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva stepped up and produced flawless displays.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United, who are currently struggling with their position in the Championship, performed admirably in the first half and had a few favorable opportunities to seize the lead.

However, City’s quality eventually shone through, and they were able to control the game and create chances at will.

After the thrilling game, Guardiola was full of praise for the hero of the semi-final, Mahrez, who he described as a “huge mentality competitor” and a player with a “huge ambition to score goals”.

He also praised his team’s overall performance, particularly given the fact that they had just played a tough Champions League game against Bayern Munich three days earlier.

For Mahrez, it was a night to remember as he scored his first-ever hat trick for City and helped his team reach another major final. The 30-year-old Mahrez said that it feels very good to score a hat trick.

He further concluded, “The most important thing is that we wanted to make sure we got to the final. I think I had a good game. It’s a good team achievement, and we took the game seriously.”

As the FA Cup final is slated to occur on June 3, City presently possesses the opportunity to claim their fourth significant trophy of the season.

Earlier, Manchester City won the Carabao Cup and is on course to win the Premier League title. Moreover, if the City can also lift the FA Cup and the Champions League, it would cap off an incredible season for Guardiola’s men.