FA Cup Quarter-Finals: Rashford Fires Villa to Victory

Aston Villa secured a dominant 3-0 win over Preston North End in the FA Cup quarter-finals at Deepdale Stadium. Marcus Rashford was the star of the match, scoring twice in the second half to put Villa firmly in control. His first goal came from a well-placed Lucas Digne cross, while his second was a coolly converted penalty. Jacob Ramsey sealed the victory with a late goal, sending Unai Emery’s side to the semi-finals for the first time since 2015.

Despite Preston’s spirited first-half performance, their lack of cutting edge in attack proved costly. The Championship side was the only non-Premier League team left in the competition, but they ultimately couldn’t match Villa’s quality.

Bournemouth vs Manchester City: Late Comeback Seals City’s Progress

Manchester City had to fight hard to overcome Bournemouth in a 2-1 comeback win. Bournemouth stunned the Premier League champions by taking the lead through Evanilson and even managed to deny Erling Haaland from the penalty spot. However, City’s relentless pressure paid off in the second half as Haaland redeemed himself with a well-taken equalizer. Omar Marmoush then scored the winner, securing City’s place in the semi-finals.

FA Cup Semi-Final Lineup Confirmed

With these results, the FA Cup semi-finals will feature:

• Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace
• Manchester City vs Manchester United (or Liverpool, pending their quarter-final result)

The semi-finals promise exciting matchups, with Aston Villa looking to continue their dream FA Cup run, while Manchester City aims to retain their dominance in English football.