Tevez nets hat-trick at City moves into semis

Manchester City's Carlos Tevez (center) scores his side's first goal during their English FA Cup quarterfinal match against Barnsley in Manchester on Saturday. City won 5-0.

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CARLOS Tevez put Manchester City on the road to Wembley with an FA Cup hat-trick on Saturday, two days after being arrested for a driving offense.

The striker also played a part in goals by Aleksandar Kolarov and David Silva as City crushed Barnsley 5-0 to reach the semifinals.

Tevez helped secure City's biggest win of the season while out on bail after being arrested for driving with a suspended license. The maximum punishment is six months in prison.

"It is his problem - not ours," City manager Roberto Mancini said adding, "If it has this effect on him I hope the police can stop him every day."

Wigan will also be playing at Wembley next month after reaching the semifinals for the first time in its 81-year history by beating Everton 3-0.

The cup is City's last realistic chance of winning a title this season, and Mancini's side has reached the semifinals without conceding a goal.

Tevez took just 11 minutes to open the scoring against second-tier club Barnsley.

After David Silva's strike was pushed onto the post by goalkeeper Luke Steele, Tevez was on hand to bundle in the rebound.

Tevez turned provider in the 27th, with Kolarov meeting his cutback to double City's lead.

Tevez was on target again four minutes later from close range after connecting with Silva's pass.

And the hat-trick was completed five minutes into the second half after being set up by Samir Nasri.

Tevez was also involved in the buildup that saw Silva score after being denied initially by Steele.

"(The early goal) made a big difference because when you play against that kind of team you need to knock them down from the first minute, which we did and after that they lost confidence," Mancini said.

In the Premier League, six of the bottom eight played on Saturday.

QPR won back-to-back for the first time this season after beating Sunderland 3-1, and is four points from safety.

After Steven Fletcher put Sunderland in front at Loftus Road, Loic Remy leveled before half time and Andros Townsend and Jermaine scored with exquisite half-volleys for the hosts.

QPR is level on points with Reading, which lost 2-1 to Aston Vill, but remains bottom because of fewer goals scored.

Reading had gone ahead against Villa after Nathan Baker's 32nd-minute own goal but Christian Benteke equalized inside two minutes.

And Gabriel Agbonlahor clinched the win for Villa.

Southampton is a point ahead of Villa after drawing 0-0 at Norwich.

West Bromwich Albion rose to seventh by fighting back to beat Swansea 2-1.

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