Riyad Mahrez scored a hat-trick for Manchester City against Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-final yesterday.
Pep Guardiola’s side eased past the Blades 3-0, and will now face either Brighton or Manchester United in the final.
Sheffield United made it tricky for City in the first half-hour or so.
But Daniel Jebbison bringing down Bernardo Silva in the area gave City the chance to break the deadlock.
Erling Haaland was hovering, but it was Mahrez who took the spot-kick, finding the bottom corner with pinpoint accuracy.
That meant the Blades had to come and try to play a bit more.
Ultimately, this would open to door for City – and it was Mahrez who grabbed two more goals to complete his hat-trick in a display of clinical finishing.
The Algeria international is now up to 15 goals for the season – a great return considering he does not start every game.
He was superb yesterday, and Guardiola will be delighted with the 32-year-old ahead of a massive few weeks for the club.
Phil Foden is back now for City after recovering from his appendix surgery. So for Mahrez it was important that he gave a good account of himself yesterday.
He certainly did that, and his performance led Jermain Defoe to hail him on last night’s Match of the Day.
Cesc Fabregas sends message to Riyad Mahrez on Instagram after FA Cup hast-trick for Man City
Mahrez has stolen the headlines after his showing yesterday, as expected.
It was a fine performance from him at Wembley, and it was the first treble in an FA Cup semi-final since 1958.
The social media post he would make after the game was always going to prompt a massive response.
Many fans have commented, as have a few of his City teammates like Jack Grealish, Aymeric Laporte and Phil Foden.
Former Premier League midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas has also left a comment, and it pretty much sums up the feeling for many about Mahrez after yesterday’s game.
He wrote simply ‘crack’, which is a slang term used to describe a player with high skills. Usually it is a special term generally reserved for players that are more technical.
And they don’t come much more technical than Mahrez.
It is quite the compliment from two-time FA Cup winner Fabregas, who is definitely one of the best technical players English football has ever seen.
