Aston Villa Storm Past Preston North End with 3-0 Victory

Aston Villa secured their place in the semi-finals with a confident 3-0 win over Championship side Preston North End, thanks to a stellar performance from Marcus Rashford. Coming off a disappointing international duty where he wasn’t included in Thomas Tuchel's England squad, Rashford opened his goal account for Villa after a challenging first half where they lacked a clear striking presence, partially due to Ollie Watkins starting on the bench with a minor knee issue.

Despite dominating possession with an impressive 72% at halftime, Villa failed to convert this into any shots on target during the opening 45 minutes. In fact, it was Preston who almost took an early lead, with Stefan Thordarson heading wide of the goal when it seemed easier to score.

Frustrated by his team’s lack of creativity, Villa manager Unai Emery opted for a cautious approach, allowing his attackers time to adjust. His patience paid off handsomely as Villa netted three goals within a 12-minute span, silencing the home crowd at Deepdale, who were witnessing their first FA Cup quarter-final since 1966.

Rashford struck first by expertly guiding a pass from Lucas Digne into the net from the edge of the penalty area. Just moments later, he notched his second by calmly converting a penalty after Morgan Rogers was fouled. The third goal came from Jacob Ramsey, who displayed strength and finesse to finish inside the box, sealing Villa's commanding victory.

Villa’s fifth consecutive win in all competitions has positioned them strongly ahead of a crucial April schedule featuring matches in the UEFA Champions League and a semi-final clash against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup.

Manchester City Overcome AFC Bournemouth in Second-Half Resurgence

In a thrilling encounter, Manchester City continued their impressive FA Cup run by defeating AFC Bournemouth 2-1, securing their seventh successive semi-final appearance. The match saw a stunning turnaround, with City rising to the occasion in the second half after trailing at halftime.

Despite dominating early stages, City found themselves behind when Erling Haaland missed several goal-scoring opportunities, including a saved penalty. Bournemouth capitalized on City's struggles, with Justin Kluivert and Evanilson teaming up to open the scoring early in the game. This was a concerning trend for City, who have often conceded first this season.

However, just four minutes into the second half, Haaland finally broke through with his 30th goal of the season, making history as the first player to score 30+ goals in all competitions for three consecutive Premier League seasons since Ruud van Nistelrooy. City swiftly took control of the game after this pivotal goal.

With Haaland substituted after a minor injury, the magic came from the bench as Nico O'Reilly and Omar Marmoush combined to put City ahead. Bournemouth struggled to mount a response, failing to register a shot on target after the break, demonstrating the effectiveness of City’s game management.

This match marked a significant blow to Bournemouth, whose hopes of securing a major trophy for the first time have been dashed. They now find themselves winless in six matches and have dropped to 10th in the Premier League standings.

Looking Ahead: FA Cup Semi-Finals and Fixture Adjustments

Anticipation builds as the FA Cup semi-finals are set to take place at Wembley Stadium on the weekend of April 26-27, featuring Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City and Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace. Due to the scheduling of these crucial matches, several Premier League fixtures will be postponed, adding a layer of intrigue to both the cup and league competitions.

Football fans will be eagerly watching as these teams vie for a place in the cup final, promising more drama and excitement in the weeks to come.