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Aston Villa and Manchester City secured their places in the FA Cup semi-finals with impressive victories over Preston North End and Bournemouth, respectively. While Villa cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win, City had to dig deep to edge out Bournemouth 2-1.
At Deepdale, Aston Villa showcased their Premier League quality by outclassing Championship side Preston North End in a 3-0 victory.
From the opening whistle, Villa dominated possession and dictated the tempo. Their early pressure paid off when Ollie Watkins capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home the opening goal in the first half.
Preston, who had impressed in their cup run, struggled to carve out clear chances. Their best opportunity came early in the second half when Emil Riis forced a fine save from Emiliano Martinez, but the Villa defense remained resolute.
John McGinn doubled Villa’s advantage midway through the second half with a stunning curled effort from outside the box, leaving Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman with no chance.
As the hosts pushed forward in search of a lifeline, Villa exploited the spaces on the counterattack, with Moussa Diaby sealing the win with a composed finish after being set up by Douglas Luiz.
Villa manager Unai Emery praised his team’s disciplined performance. “We approached the game with the right mindset. We respected Preston, but we also knew what was required to get the job done. The players executed the plan perfectly,” he said after the match.
At the Vitality Stadium, defending champions Manchester City had to battle hard to overcome a resilient Bournemouth side in a 2-1 victory.
Pep Guardiola’s men took the lead inside 15 minutes when Erling Haaland latched onto a perfectly weighted Kevin De Bruyne pass and slotted the ball past Neto.
However, Bournemouth showed great character and equalized before halftime through Dominic Solanke.
The striker reacted quickest to a defensive mix-up, slotting home from close range to lift the home crowd.
City, determined to avoid extra time, ramped up the pressure in the second half. Their persistence paid off in the 75th minute when Phil Foden delivered the winning goal.
A well-executed team move saw Bernardo Silva set up Foden, who curled a beautiful shot into the top corner from the edge of the box, sealing City’s spot in the semi-finals.
Guardiola acknowledged Bournemouth’s resilience but praised his team’s composure under pressure. “It was a tough game, as expected. Bournemouth played very well, but our patience and quality in key moments made the difference,” he said.
With these results, Aston Villa and Manchester City move one step closer to FA Cup glory. The semi-final draw will determine their next opponents as they prepare for the grand stage at Wembley Stadium.
