Last night, Aston Villa cruised to a 2-0 FA Cup fifth-round win over Cardiff City at Villa Park, reaching the quarter finals for the first time in a decade. Marco Asensio’s second-half brace sealed the deal, but Unai Emery’s starting lineup stole the show after a tough 4-1 loss to Crystal Palace days earlier.
Facing a busy schedule, Emery fielded a strong side. Martinez’s return steadied the back, while the attacking quartet—especially Asensio and Rashford— turned the tide after a frustrating first half.
Cardiff held firm early, with goalkeeper Ethan Horvath making quite a few saves. But Villa broke through in the 68th minute via Rashford’s assist to Asensio, who added a second in the 80th to send Villa Park wild. It was a deserved win, built on Emery’s selections and familiar team formation.
With the quarter-final draw on Sunday, Villa’s cup run looks promising. Emery’s starting lineup and a return to his usual team formation paid off, keeping Villa’s FA Cup dream alive. UTV
It’s been ages since I last posted on my blog. I’m excited to start writing again, but I’ll keep it simple at first. Please be patient with me as I get back into the blogging feel. Thanks, Glenn.