LONDON, April 16: The tame back pass from John Stones trickled toward Zack Steffen. Just a simple clearance was needed by Manchester City’s backup goalkeeper with Liverpool already leading.
One touch controlled the pass. The second touch was … doing what? The dawdling American just took too long.
Before the ball could be hoofed clear, Sadio Mane raced into the penalty area and slid in to nudge the ball over the line.
Liverpool moved into a two-goal lead — building on Ibrahima Konate’s header — and Mane scored again before halftime to clinch an eventual 3-2 victory over City on Saturday and reach a first FA Cup final in a decade.
The quadruple is still on for Liverpool with Chelsea or Crystal Palace awaiting in the FA Cup final next month.
There’s only two paths to trophies for City, and Liverpool could thwart both.
Their tussle for the English Premier League trophy is far tighter than this FA Cup semifinal suggested, where Liverpool’s superiority was clear in the first half before goals from Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva gave a hope of a City comeback.
Their 2-2 draw last Sunday in the league prevented Liverpool from moving into first place, and left City a point in front.
There could yet be a fourth instalment of this rivalry this season in Paris next month if they win semifinals to reach the Champions League final. That would see Liverpool contest three finals in 2022 having already won the League Cup at Wembley.
City and Liverpool look sure to qualify for the Champions League again. The rest of the Premier League’s top four is more up for grabs.
City manager Pep Guardiola might regret sticking with his strategy of giving Steffen game time in the FA Cup and resting first-choice goalkeeper Ederson. (AP)
