How Manchester City reached first FA Cup final for four years
By Andy Hampson, PA
Manchester City face arch-rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
Here, the PA news agency looks at how Pep Guardiola’s side made it to Wembley.
Man City 4 Chelsea 0 (third round, Jan 8th)
In the hat! 🎩
🔵 4-0 🦁 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/X1cKF5OMCH— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 8, 2023
City sailed through with surprising ease as Chelsea put up little resistance at the Etihad Stadium just three days after a hard-fought Premier League clash between the sides at Stamford Bridge.
A superb Riyad Mahrez free-kick, a Julian Alvarez penalty and a Phil Foden effort effectively wrapped up the contest in the first half.
Mahrez completed the scoring from the spot late on.
Man City 1 Arsenal 0 (fourth round, Jan 27th)
73. ☝️ In the lead ☝️
🔵 1-0 🔴 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/jtl5jxma8w— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 27, 2023
City edged a tight and entertaining game that lived up to its pre-match billing as a heavyweight contest.
A tidy finish from defender Nathan Ake, placing a shot into the bottom corner after good work from Jack Grealish, settled the tie in the 64th minute.
Bristol City 0 Man City 3 (fifth round, Feb 28nd)
Foden struck twice as City saw off their Championship hosts with little alarm.
The England midfielder opened the scoring after seven minutes when he turned home a low Mahrez ball at the back post and made victory certain with a deflected effort after the break.
Kevin De Bruyne added a brilliant third with a low curling shot from outside the area.
Man City 6 Burnley 0 (quarter-finals, Mar 18th)
City gave their former captain Vincent Kompany a hero’s reception on his return to the Etihad – but showed his Championship-leading side little mercy on the field.
The prolific Erling Haaland, who had smashed five past RB Leipzig just days earlier, helped himself to a hat-trick as the Clarets were put to the sword.
Alvarez weighed in with a double and Cole Palmer also got on the scoresheet in the rout.
Man City 3 Sheff Utd 0 (semi-finals, Apr 22nd)
Taking home the match ball ⚽️@Mahrez22 making history! 🪄 pic.twitter.com/WKh4fUveKd
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 23, 2023
Another promotion-challenging Championship side failed to lay a glove on City as Guardiola’s men booked a return to the final for the first time in four years after three successive semi-final defeats.
Mahrez took centre-stage by scoring the first FA Cup semi-final hat-trick since 1958 and the first at Wembley.
The Blades were made to rue missing a gilt-edged early chance through Iliman Ndiaye as Mahrez grabbed his first from the spot, ran through the defence for a fine solo second and swept in to complete his treble.
