FA Cup: First half blitz help Liverpool beat Man City in semifinal

London American goalkeeper Zack Steffen blundered to gift Liverpool a goal in Manchester City’s 3-

American goalkeeper Zack Steffen blundered to gift Liverpool a goal in Manchester City’s 3-2 loss in the FA Cup semifinals.

Manchester City was already trailing 1-0 at Wembley when Steffen’s allowed Sadio Mané to score Liverpool’s second in a meeting of the English Premier League’s top teams on Saturday.

Receiving a tame back pass from John Stones, Steffen dawdled controlling the ball rather than using his second touch to clear. It gave time for Mané race into the penalty area to put him under pressure and slide in to nudge the ball over the line.

City manager Pep Guardiola defended backup goalkeeper Zack Steffen, saying he should keep his place despite the error.

After Ibrahima Konate’s header put Liverpool in the lead, the mistake from the United States international Steffen gave the Reds a second goal in the 17th minute.

“It was an accident, but we need him to try because that’s how we play our football,” Guardiola told reporters after the game.

“He deserves to play and after that he had a good game,” Guardiola said. “He made good saves and is an exceptional keeper.”