The FA Cup quarter-finals served up dramatic action as Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Manchester City secured their spots in the semi-finals.
With commanding performances, all four teams demonstrated their knockout pedigree heading into a crucial stage of the competition.
Aston Villa showcased their class with a 3-0 victory over Championship side Preston North End.
Marcus Rashford stole the show, scoring his first goals for Villa after a quiet first half. Rashford’s opener came from a Lucas Digne assist, followed shortly by a penalty conversion after Morgan Rogers was fouled in the box.
Jacob Ramsey added the third with a powerful finish, solidifying Villa’s second five-match winning streak of the season.
With two matches against PSG in the Champions League and a semi-final clash with Crystal Palace, Villa’s April promises high-stakes encounters that could define their season.
Manchester City meanwhile delivered a thrilling comeback to defeat Bournemouth 2-1, marking their seventh consecutive FA Cup semi-final appearance.
Erling Haaland’s missed opportunities—including a saved penalty—initially left City trailing after Justin Kluivert and Evanilson combined for Bournemouth’s opener. But substitute Nico O’Reilly’s assist set Haaland up for the equalizer, his 30th goal of the season.
Another substitute, Omar Marmoush, sealed the victory with a composed finish under Kepa Arrizabalaga’s watch. Bournemouth struggled to recover, failing to register a shot in the second half as City’s game management shone through.
The FA Cup semi-finals will feature Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City and Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace, taking place at Wembley on April 26-27.
These fixtures will clash with Matchweek 34 of the Premier League, leading to the rescheduling of three league matches.
