Tevez leads City into semis

Manchester City's Argentina striker Carlos Tevez scored a hat-trick two days after he was arrested as they cruised past Barnsley 5-0 to join history makers Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Tevez, held by English police on Thursday for allegedly driving while disqualified, took his goals tally for the season to 15 in all competitions with clinical finishing against the Championship (second division) club.

Wigan had earlier stunned Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park to reach the last four of the Cup for the first time in their 81-year history.

Roberto Martinez's side, facing another Premier League relegation battle, were underdogs but effectively settled the contest with three goals in four amazing first-half minutes from Maynor Figueroa, Callum McManaman and Jordi Gomez.

On Sunday, Millwall face Blackburn Rovers in an all-Championship quarter-final and Premier League leaders Manchester United meet Chelsea in the remaining tie of the round.

Both semi-finals will take place at Wembley on the weekend of April 13 and 14.

Tevez, 29, justified his manager's faith in him at the Etihad Stadium, scoring in the 11th, 31st and 50th minutes before being substituted 14 minutes from time.

"If it has this effect on him, I hope the police can stop him every day," Roberto Mancini was quoted as saying by the BBC.

Italian Mancini is aiming to guide City to their second FA Cup triumph in three seasons and their sixth in total.

Barnsley were outclassed throughout and never looked like even challenging their opponents once Tevez put the Premier League champions ahead with a tap-in after keeper Luke Steele had pushed David Silva's flick on to the post.

Tevez provided the second for Aleksandar Kolarov, who finished with an unerring, low shot across Steele, and Tevez made it 3-0 before the break from close range after collecting another Silva pass.

He rounded off his treble just after halftime, turning home Samir Nasri's cut-back.

Silva completed the scoring in the 65th minute after Tevez's shot had been parried by Steele.

"We scored quickly and scored three in the first half. After that it was finished," Mancini told ESPN.