Read back through Mail Sport’s live blog for the FA Cup semi-final clash between Manchester City and Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium.
Thanks for sticking with us throughout that thrilling FA Cup semi-final between Man City and Sheffield United.
In the end, it wasn’t to be for the Blades but they can still be proud of the performance that they put in against one of Europe’s best sides.
Be sure to check out all the reaction from the match and more on our website!
They’re hard task masters at Manchester City. Miss a penalty and you’re sacked. No matter that you’re chasing down Dixie Dean’s historic record of 63 goals in a season. Erling Haaland failed in midweek against Bayern for the first time this season and he was stood down. And up stepped Riyad Mahrez.
Indeed, who even needs 48-goal Haaland anyway? Mahrez converted the penalty, went on to score a hat-trick. And that’s the kind of ruthlessness that keeps Manchester City’s treble very much alive.
CLICK BELOW FOR MORE
Manchester City book their place in the FA Cup final after a thumping 3-0 victory over Sheffield United at Wembley.
Riyad Mahrez stole the show, as he netted a hat-trick to maintain their ambitions of securing a historic Treble this season.
We’ll have a full match report coming your way shortly…
So close for the World Cup winner! He picks the ball up on the edge of the box and fires it at goal but can only watch as his effort flies wide of the mark.
The Blades had shown signs of promises in the first-half of this match but have been considerably outplayed in this second period.
City are enjoying the bulk of possession and have kept up the pressure on the Sheffield United defence, who have had their work cut out for them this afternoon.
Rico Lewis replaces Bernardo Silva.
Kalvin Phillips replaces Ilkay Gundogan for Man City. Meanwhile Sander Berge, George Baldock and Anel Ahmedhodzic are replaced by Chris Basham, Ismaila Coulibaly and Jayden Bogle
Oliver Norwood is the first player to get cautioned by the referee.
Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish are replaced by Cole Palmer and Phil Foden
Mahrez has his hat-trick! It’s a beautiful goal from City, as Grealish slides the ball intop the path of the Algerian, who makes no mistake in dispatching his effort.
He’s been brilliant this afternoon and, with all eyes on Haaland pre-match, has stolen the show in this semi-final.
Riyad Mahrez doubles his tally for the afternoon with a brilliant solo effort! The Algerian winger nicked the ball in the middle of the pitch and drove all the way into the penalty area before stroking the ball into the back of the net. Tremendous goal and it’s a big one for City.
Oliver McBurnie replaces Daniel Jebbison
The Norwegian is at full stretch as he tries to get on the end of teasing ball at the back-post but he’s just short of making contact with the ball. Agonisingly close.
Pep Guardiola’s side have picked up where they left off from the first-half and have instantly put the Blades on the backfoot in this half. Nothing clear cut but a lot of early pressure.
We’re back underway for the second-half!
And just like that, the first-half of this FA Cup semi-final is over. Man City go in at the break with a one-goal advantage thanks to Riyad Mahrez’s penalty.
There seem to be some suggestions that the spot-kick was unfairly awarded but I don’t the Blades can have too many complaints.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side will be disappointed to be behind at the interval, after a strong performance in the first-half but they’re certainly not out of this one…
Riyad Mahrez makes no mistake from the spot and tucks his penalty into the bottom right corner of the goal. Foderingham dives the other way, he had no chance at stopping it.
The referee points to the spot after a foul by Daniel Jebbison on Bernardo Silva!
Again, the Blades find luck through a breakaway but Ndiaye can’t find the space to get a shot on goal and gets the ball nicked off him. Good defending from the Premier League side.
It’s getting a bit scrappy out there now. Baldock going in late on City’s Gomez sees the referee call for a foul but he doesn’t brandish a card. This has the signs of a fiery encounter…
City are knocking on the door now! Julian Alvarez curls an effort from outside the box but Wes Foderingham does well to beat it behind for a corner.
A first real shot at goal from Man City and it comes from Riyad Mahrez’s long-range effort. The Algerian tries to curl his effort into the far corner but it sails a few yards wide of goal.
A rare breakaway for Sheffield United sees the ball drop to Jack Robinson on the edge of the box. His effort is drilled low and into the arms of City’s Ortega. A fairly tame effort.
There’s yet to be any real opportunities since that chance for Ndiaye early on. The Blades have sat in well and are making it difficult for City to play through them.
Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne only makes the bench this afternoon but could he make an entrance later in the match?
As expected, Manchester City are controlling the majority of possession in these early stages. There does seem the opportunity for counter-attacks for the Blades, however.
What an opportunity for Iliman Ndiaye! The ball drops to the Sheffield United forward inside the box from a corner but he smashes it into City’s Ortega. Big chance.
Here we go!
Moments away from kick-off here…
There’s not long to go until kick-off now and the atmosphere at Wembley is building with so much on the line!
The winner of this afternoon’s match will take on the winner of tomorrow’s semi-final between Brighton and Manchester United in the final of this year’s competition.
If City take the win this afternoon, it’d be a huge step in the right direction as they look to secure a historic Treble this season.
The Blades, however, will be hoping to spoil City’s party and extend their impressive form of late – having won seven out of their last nine games.
Sheffield United’s Oliver Norwood left Manchester United at the age of 21 with dreams unfulfilled having failed to make a single first-team appearance for Sir Alex Ferguson.
But more than a decade later, he’s finally been given the chance to become an Old Trafford legend. All he has to do is end their worst nightmare and kill off Manchester City’s Treble dream in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
CLICK BELOW FOR MORE
Though he won’t like to admit it, Pep Guardiola’s Man City have a real possibility of securing a historic Treble this season.
One main factor to that has been the impressive performances from Belgian playmaker Kevin de Bruyne, who has thrived with Erling Haaland in attack.
Sometimes even the best footballers need a little chivvying along and Guardiola’s criticism of the Belgian last month has proved to be an act of genius.
CLICK BELOW FOR MORE
Sheffield United might have been holding hope that Man City would give Erling Haaland a well deserved rest.
Well that is not the case as the Norwegian striker plays up top and will be looking to add to his obscene number of goals he has tallied up this season.
It’s a strong City team and Sheffield United will have it all to do this afternoon!
And welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Sheffield United.
Pep Guardiola’s are massive favourites against the Championship side today, so if the Blades can pull off a result it would go down as one of the great FA Cup shocks of recent times.
We will be bringing you all the build-up and action with kick-off from 4.45pm.
James Cohen
Host commentator