Aston Villa 3-0 Preston: Villa Secure FA Cup Semi-Final Spot After Dominant Second Half

Aston Villa have reached the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since the 2014-15 season, following a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Preston North End at Deepdale. It was Villa’s biggest FA Cup win since they defeated Hull City by the same scoreline in January 1999, with second-half goals from Marcus Rashford and Jacob Ramsey securing the win.

The first half saw Preston put up strong resistance, frustrating their Premier League opponents and limiting Villa’s opportunities. However, as the game opened up in the second half, Villa’s quality began to shine through. Marcus Rashford, who joined the club on loan, broke the deadlock with his first goal for Villa, meeting Lucas Digne’s cross with a clinical finish. Just minutes later, Rashford doubled Villa’s lead from the penalty spot after Rogers was fouled in the box.

Rashford’s brace takes his FA Cup quarter-final goal tally to five, making him the leading scorer in quarter-finals since his debut in the competition in 2016. This was also his first brace in the FA Cup since January 2017, when he scored two goals for Manchester United against Reading in the third round.

Jacob Ramsey added Villa’s third goal, capping off an impressive performance with a well-taken strike to make the victory more emphatic. Ramsey had been a constant threat throughout the match, and his goal put the result beyond doubt.

Preston, who had been unbeaten at home in their last 15 matches (W6 D9), struggled to create chances, managing just 0.47 in expected goals (xG) compared to Villa’s 3.54. The defeat ended Preston’s home unbeaten run, which stretched back to November 2024. It was also the first time they lost by a margin of three or more goals at home since their 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the League Cup in October 2024.

Villa will now look forward to their first FA Cup semi-final in a decade, while Preston will turn their attention to their upcoming league match against Derby County. Aston Villa, meanwhile, will face Brighton and Hove Albion in their next Premier League outing.

Final score: Aston Villa 3-0 Preston North End.