Marco Asensio’s second double in six days despatched Aston Villa to the FA Cup quarter-finals for the primary time in 10 years and ended Championship membership Cardiff Metropolis’s run on this season’s competitors.
Midfielder Asensio mixed with fellow January mortgage signing Marcus Rashford in acquainted vogue to fireplace the 68th-minute opener from contained in the penalty space as a part of a dominant victory for the Premier League facet.
Manchester United ahead Rashford had arrange each of Asensio’s targets in Villa’s 2-1 comeback victory over Chelsea within the Premier League final Saturday.
The Paris St-Germain midfielder tucked in his second from Ollie Watkins’ cross 10 minutes from time as Villa prolonged their unbeaten dwelling run to fifteen matches in all competitions.
Marcus Rashford ➡️ Marco Asensio ⚽
The duo are at it once more for Aston Villa!@AVFCOfficial | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/opDqkYZWVI
— ITV Soccer (@itvfootball) February 28, 2025
Aston Villa vs Cardiff: Bluebirds ousted
Cardiff carried out admirably to carry on throughout a primary half of virtually complete domination for Villa, with the guests solely having their first contact contained in the opposition field after 42 minutes and discovering themselves indebted to goalkeeper Ethan Horvath for saves from Watkins and Leon Bailey.
USA worldwide Horvath turned a swerving long-range effort from Rashford behind shortly after the break, whereas there was a second of concern for Villa when centre-back Ezri Konsa went down unchallenged shortly afterwards and required remedy on an obvious knee damage earlier than persevering with.
The second-lowest ranked staff left within the competitors produced their solely try heading in the right direction a minute earlier than falling behind, when Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez – an damage doubt earlier than the sport – saved sharply and held Yousef Salach’s first-time shot from Perry Ng’s glorious cross from the suitable.
MARCO ASENSIO! 🇪🇸
The Spaniard steering Aston Villa into the quarter-finals of the #EmiratesFACup @AVFCOfficial | #ITVFootball pic.twitter.com/4eocKX6U4H
— ITV Soccer (@itvfootball) February 28, 2025
Villa dominate in FA Cup win
Unai Emery claimed on Friday that his staff are usually not FA Cup contenders, however the Villa supervisor named a stronger facet than anticipated and the consequence was a convincing win.
Villa had 10 efforts heading in the right direction, 25 of the 29 makes an attempt at purpose between the groups and virtually 68% of possession, though a scarcity of ruthlessness stored the house followers ready for his or her first purpose.
They’re 4 days from their Champions League last-16 first leg at Club Brugge, whereas Cardiff are eager to focus on extending their distance from the second-tier relegation zone.
The Bluebirds – managed by former West Ham and Arsenal ahead Omer Riza – additionally didn’t identify a full-strength staff regardless of a 1-0 home win over Hull City on Tuesday sending them six factors above the underside three.
Metropolis had recorded two spectacular away victories in opposition to opponents from their division to succeed in the fifth spherical, beating promotion contenders Sheffield United and profitable on penalties following a 3-3 draw at Stoke Metropolis.
