Yaya strike sends City into final

Manchester United's hopes of the treble ended in dramatic fashion as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the semi-finals of the FA Cup at Wembley.

Veteran midfielder Paul Scholes was sent off in the 72nd minute following a lunge at Pablo Zabaleta and the 10 men could not get back in the game.

Yaya Toure's second-half goal sealed City's place in the final and improved their hopes of lifting a major trophy for the first time in 35 years.

Mario Balotelli was up front on his own for Manchester City and it was a game of cat and mouse in the early stages with Nani left dazed in the 11th minute after a boot in the face from Nigel De Jong as they went for a loose ball.

Nani's free-kick in the 29th minute came back off the wall. From the resulting corner Dimitar Berbatov headed wide following Antonio Valencia's delivery. City responded three minutes later when David Silva played the ball in and, although Balotelli failed to get a decent touch, it broke to Gareth Barry, who turned John O'Shea but saw his shot fly wide.

Balotelli sent a shot wide at the near post in the 49th minute following Aleksandar Kolarov's cross and City made the breakthrough in the 52nd minute following a mistake by Michael Carrick.

The midfielder lost possession to Toure and he raced on, skipping past Nemanja Vidic before sending a shot through Edwin van der Sar's legs.

United, however, almost drew level in the 66th minute when Nani sent a superb free-kick over the wall but Joe Hart somehow managed to get the slightest of touches - despite a slight deflection off Balotelli - and pushed the ball onto the bar.

The match took a dramatic turn in the 72nd minute with United were reduced to 10 men. Veteran midfielder Scholes was dismissed by referee Mike Dean for a lunge at Zabaleta that left the full-back on the floor.

With five minutes of stoppage time being played nerves were frayed on both sides but it was City manager Roberto Mancini who was celebrating, not Sir Alex Ferguson as United's treble hopes were dashed. Balotelli was then involved with United players at the final whistle before being led away.