Marcus Rashford scored a brace to lead Aston Villa to a 3-0 victory over Preston on Sunday, securing their first FA Cup semi-final appearance in 10 years.
Rashford’s second-half goals broke Preston’s resistance, with Jacob Ramsey sealing the win to send Villa into the last four. The Midlands club will now face Crystal Palace, who triumphed 3-0 over Fulham in their quarter-final.
Since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United in January, Rashford has rediscovered the form that once made him one of England’s most exciting talents. After struggling for consistency at United, the 27-year-old has shown glimpses of his best as Villa’s central striker, scoring twice to break Preston’s resolve.
“It’s a great feeling,” Rashford said post-match. “I’ve been getting fitter and playing better football here. It’s always nice for a forward to score, and I hope it continues.”
Villa, under Unai Emery, have also impressed in Europe, advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain in April. With an outside chance of qualifying for next season’s competition, Villa’s rise has mirrored Rashford’s resurgence.
Preston, 14th in the Championship, were making their first FA Cup quarter-final appearance since 1966 but struggled against a Villa side determined to reach Wembley. Rashford’s free-kick forced Preston goalkeeper David Cornell into action early, and Villa went on to dominate after the break.
Rashford opened the scoring in the 58th minute, finishing a low cross from Lucas Digne. He then converted a penalty in the 63rd minute, following a foul on Morgan Rogers. Ramsey added a third, sealing the win with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.
With Villa’s ambitions high, they now set their sights on an FA Cup title, with the semi-final clash against Palace set for the weekend of April 26-27.
AFP
