Marcus Rashford put an end to his four-month wait for a goal as he helped Aston Villa secure a place in the FA Cup semi-finals with a win over Preston North End. The forward, who joined Villa on loan, had not found the net since scoring twice for Manchester United against Everton in December.
After missing a couple of earlier chances against the Championship side, Rashford finally converted in the 58th minute, finishing off a low cross from Lucas Digne. Just five minutes later, he doubled his tally from the penalty spot after Andrew Hughes brought down Morgan Rogers, sending Preston goalkeeper David Cornell the wrong way.
The victory keeps Villa’s hopes alive for their first FA Cup triumph since 1957, but they will need to overcome Crystal Palace in the next round. Meanwhile, Preston fought hard but struggled in the absence of key players, including first-choice keeper Freddie Woodman and defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden, who was ineligible to face his parent club.
Villa Take Control After Early Resistance
Once Rashford opened the scoring, Villa never looked back. Their dominance was highlighted when Jacob Ramsey sealed the result with a powerful shot from the edge of the box, again set up by Digne, with 19 minutes left to play. The victory marked the club’s first FA Cup semi-final appearance in a decade.
For Rashford, this match was a significant moment. He arrived at Villa Park in February with high expectations but had yet to silence his critics. Despite having won the FA Cup twice with United, including last season, his form had been under scrutiny, especially after failing to score in nine previous Villa appearances.
However, under Unai Emery’s guidance, the England international appears rejuvenated. His recent recall to the national team reflects his improvement, even though he had gone 14 matches without a goal across club and international games before this breakthrough.
A Renewed Sense of Confidence
Emery’s trust in Rashford was evident, as he even handed him free-kick duties at Deepdale. Though his initial attempts were off target, he remained determined. A golden opportunity arose in the second half when he found himself one-on-one with Cornell, but the Preston goalkeeper reacted quickly to deny him.
Yet, Rashford’s persistence paid off when Digne found space on the left and delivered a pinpoint cross. The forward coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner. His confidence was further underlined when he stepped up for the penalty, keeping his composure despite a long VAR check before sending Cornell the wrong way.
