adminMANCHESTER CITY’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League remain in the balance as a brilliant Sadio Mane hat-trick secured Southampton an easy win. Shane Long struck at the near post and Mane doubled the lead from 10 yards before City’s Kelechi Iheanacho scored.
Mane then pounced twice to make sure of the win – reacting quickly as Jose Fonte’s header came off the crossbar and converting Dusan Tadic’s pass.
Iheanacho found the top-right corner late on but the match was all but over.
The victory ensures Southampton – five points adrift of sixth-place West Ham with two games remaining – can still qualify for next season’s Europa League, though their chances appear slim.
City remain fourth – three points behind third-placed Arsenal, who have played a game more, and four ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United, who drew against leaders Leicester at Old Trafford yesterday.
Manuel Pellegrini’s team still have a comfortable cushion over their city rivals, but face a defining week, with the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid on Wednesday followed by a tussle with Arsenal in the league four days later. — BBC Sport
derick.khumalo