Preston vs Aston Villa LIVE: Marcus Rashford scores first goals as Villa reach FA Cup semi-finals
Preston 0-3 Aston Villa: Rashford scored twice as Unai Emery’s side booked a trip to Wembley
Marcus Rashford scored his first goals for Aston Villa as they cruised to victory at Preston North End to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.
Rashford had made an excellent impression since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United but had gone nine games without a goal for Unai Emery’s side.
But he struck twice in three minutes to send Villa to Wembley, where they will face Crystal Palace, first finishing off a swift move and then converting a penalty after Morgan Rogers was fouled in the box.
Preston, who were the only Championship team to reach the quarter-finals, offered little in the second half and Jacob Ramsey made it three.
It continues Villa’s strong season in the cups and they will have an FA Cup semi-final against Palace to look forward to, as well as their Champions League quarter-final against PSG.
Follow all the reaction from Deepdale below:
Preston 0-2 Aston Villa
Unai Emery has a habit of improving his sides in the second half. They were mediocre before the break against Brugge and scored three thereafter.
Now they have emerged for the second half a different side and have two goals. It means seven of their eight goals in this season's FA Cup have come in second halves.
Sometimes it is because Emery's recruitment has given him a strong bench, but this was accomplished with the starting 11.
Preston 0-2 Aston Villa
67 mins
A sub for Preston as Will Keane is replaced by Milutin Osmajic.
A yellow card to report too, as Whiteman drags down Asensio.
Preston 0-2 Aston Villa
No goal on 14 games for clubs and country for Rashford, two in a few minutes. His long wait is very much over.
GOAL! Preston 0-2 Aston Villa
63 mins
GOAL!
Rashford steps up and sends the ‘keeper the wrong way as he side-foots it in.
2-0 and that could be the tie.
PENALTY TO VILLA! Preston 0-1 Aston Villa
61 mins
PENALTY! Villa had a chance to make it two almost straight away, with Rogers’ shot blocked on the line, and now they have a penalty!
It’s such a silly challenge too. The ball rolls free in the box and Roger poke it back to a teammate, but after the ball has gone Hughes plants his foot straight on Rogers’ ankle in the box! So late, so obvious.
GOAL! Preston 0-1 Aston Villa
58 mins
GOAL! And it is a first goal for Rashford!
It’s good ply from Villa, as the ball falls to Asensio in midfield and he rolls it on.
It comes forward to Digne, who’s made the overlapping run into the box, and he squares a perfect ball in to Rashford, who simply has to tap in to an open net.
A great goal all-round, and good positioning from Rashford.
Preston 0-0 Aston Villa
56 mins
Another slightly wasteful piece of play from Rashford as he opts to cut inside rather than play the pass, and he loses the ball.
Preston 0-0 Aston Villa
An opening for Marcus Rashford there but still no goal for Villa; or, indeed, anyone, since he scored for Manchester United against Sean Dyche's Everton in December.
Rashford was largely anonymous in the first half. He has at least been brighter in the second but it will be interesting to see if and when Emery brings Ollie Watkins on.
Preston 0-0 Aston Villa
52 mins
CLOSE! What a chance for Villa.
They win possession in their half and Rogers carries the ball all the way onto the edge of the area before slipping a pass in for Rashford.
The loanee’s first attempt is scuffed but it runs kindly for him, and rather than square a pass he opts to shoot again, but Cornell closes the shot down well.
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