Marcus Rashford Shines With Two Goals As Aston Villa Defeats Preston To Reach FA Cup Semi-Finals

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Marcus Rashford made a significant impact for Aston Villa, scoring twice in their 3-0 victory over Preston North End to advance to the FA Cup semi-finals. His goals came early in the second half, breaking his nine-game goal drought since joining on loan from Manchester United. Jacob Ramsey added a third goal, ensuring Villa's place at Wembley and boosting their hopes of winning the FA Cup for the first time since 1957.

Villa faced challenges early in the match due to Preston's aggressive pressing. Rashford's free-kicks didn't trouble David Cornell, and Ezri Konsa missed a header opportunity. Preston had a chance to score when Stefan Thordarson headed wide instead of leaving it for Will Keane. However, Villa capitalised on their chances after halftime.

Lucas Digne set up Rashford for his first goal with a precise pass during a swift counterattack. This goal lifted Villa's spirits, and shortly after, Morgan Rogers' shot was cleared off the line. Rashford then won a penalty after being fouled by Andrew Hughes and calmly converted it to double Villa's lead.

As Preston began to tire, Jacob Ramsey sealed the win with a powerful shot from outside the box in the 73rd minute. He nearly scored again with a low drive towards the end of the match. Villa now joins Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals, with Bournemouth or Manchester City set to claim the final spot.

Rashford has consistently excelled in cup competitions since his debut in March 2016. He has scored 27 goals across both domestic cups (FA Cup and EFL Cup), more than any other player during this period. His five goals in FA Cup quarter-finals surpass Romelu Lukaku's four since Rashford's competition debut nine years ago.

This match saw Rashford take five shots and create three chances, matching his best performances for Villa. He achieved similar statistics only twice in his last 113 games for Manchester United. The cup format seems to suit him well, as he continues to deliver crucial performances for Aston Villa.