Aston Villa advanced to the FA Cup quarterfinals with a commanding 2-0 victory over Cardiff City at Villa Park, thanks to an inspired performance by Marco Asensio. The Spanish midfielder, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, scored twice in the second half to seal the win for Unai Emery’s side.
Dominance from the Start
Villa dominated the game from the opening whistle, creating numerous chances but finding Cardiff goalkeeper Ethan Horvath in exceptional form. Horvath made several key saves, including efforts from Marcus Rashford, John McGinn, and Leon Bailey, keeping the Championship side in contention during a one-sided first half. By halftime, Villa had registered nine shots on goal and 12 corners, while Cardiff struggled to escape their defensive third.
Breakthrough and Brilliance
The breakthrough finally came in the 68th minute when Youri Tielemans found Rashford in space. The forward delivered a precise cutback for Asensio, who swept the ball into the bottom corner. The relief was evident as Villa’s relentless pressure paid off.
Asensio doubled his tally in the 80th minute with another clinical finish. Leon Bailey’s cross found him unmarked in the penalty area, and he fired through a crowded box to secure his fourth goal since joining Villa in January.
Defensive Resilience and Cardiff’s Struggles
Cardiff, fielding a weakened lineup due to their Championship relegation battle, rarely threatened. Their best chance came just before Villa’s opener when substitute Yousef Salech forced Emiliano Martínez into a save. The visitors might feel aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty in the first half after Perry Ng appeared to be clipped by Lamare Bogarde.
A Year of Promise for Villa
With this win, Aston Villa remain in contention for silverware on multiple fronts. They are through to the last 16 of the Champions League, competing for European spots in the Premier League, and now aiming to lift their first FA Cup since 1957.
For Cardiff, attention shifts back to their fight for Championship survival. Manager Omer Riza made six changes to his side, emphasizing their priority of avoiding relegation over cup success.
Key Stats
Shots: Aston Villa 25 – Cardiff City 2
Corners: Aston Villa 12 – Cardiff City 0
Possession: Aston Villa dominated with close to 60 touches inside Cardiff’s penalty area.
This victory extends Villa’s unbeaten home record against Cardiff to 16 games and highlights their growing ambitions under Emery. Asensio’s form will undoubtedly be pivotal as they chase glory this season.