African Superstar Fires Liverpool To FA Cup Final
17 April, 2022
African superstar Sadio Mane bagged a brace as Liverpool progressed to the FA Cup final with a 3-2 win over rivals Manchester City on Saturday evening.
FA Cup
Result: Manchester City 2-3 Liverpool
Date: 16 April 2022
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane were restored to the Reds line-up, while Kevin de Bruyne was only named on the City bench after picking up a knock against Atletico Madrid.
It was the Reds who broke the deadlock after just nine minutes when Ibrahima Konate found the back of the net with a header from Andrew Robertson's corner. The lead was doubled in the 17th minute as Sadio Mane charged down goalkeeper Zack Steffen and managed to poke the ball into the back of the net, leaving the Citizens shell-shocked. City, meanwhile, struggled to carve out any openings early on as the likes of Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden were quite sloppy in possession.
Jurgen Klopp's men were in full control and managed to add a third goal just before the break when Mane completed his brace with a superb volley past Steffen after being picked out by Thiago Alcantara.
However, City came out firing in the second half and pulled one back though Grealish, who turned home a square pass from Gabriel Jesus.
Jesus nearly got a goal of his own on 55 minutes after being set up by Sterling, but he was unable to find a way past Alisson who pulled off a great save.
Chances continued to fly at both ends as Alisson rushed off his line to deny Jesus on 69 minutes, before Mohamed Salah fired over the crossbar at the other end minutes later.
The Citizens set up a nervy finish when Bernardo Silva pulled another goal in the first minute of second-half stoppage time with a neat finish into the bottom corner.
However, it was too little too late as Klopp's men were able to see out late surge from Pep Guardiola's charges to secure a spot in the final.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za