The draw for the FA Cup semi-finals took place on Sunday, shortly after Aston Villa secured a dominant victory over Preston North End. Villa won 3-0 in the third quarter-final clash, with Marcus Rashford scoring twice—his first goals for the club—to help his team advance to the next stage.
With this victory, Unai Emery’s squad will now face Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium. Palace secured their semi-final spot on Saturday after delivering an impressive 3-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage. The result was a strong statement from Palace, as they outplayed their fellow Premier League side to earn a well-deserved place in the last four.
Another quarter-final match on Saturday saw Nottingham Forest battle Brighton in a tense encounter. The game ended goalless after 120 minutes, forcing a penalty shootout where Forest eventually emerged victorious. Their win means they now await the winner of the final quarter-final match between Manchester City and Bournemouth.
The upcoming semi-finals promise to deliver intense football action, with teams fighting for a place in the final. Aston Villa’s resurgence under Emery has been notable this season, and their upcoming match against Crystal Palace is expected to be highly competitive. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest will have to prepare for a tough challenge, especially if Manchester City—last year’s FA Cup winners—progress past Bournemouth.
