The FA Cup quarter-finals wrapped up in dramatic fashion, with Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, and Manchester City advancing to the semi-finals on Sunday.
Fans are now gearing up for blockbuster clashes at Wembley Stadium in late April.
Crystal Palace Cruise Past Fulham
Crystal Palace secured their spot with a commanding 3-0 victory over Fulham at Selhurst Park.
Eberechi Eze set the tone with a clinical finish before Ismaila Sarr and Eddie Nketiah added to the tally.
Palace manager Roy Hodgson expressed confidence in his side’s readiness for the next challenge, saying, “This team is hitting its stride at the right moment.”
Nottingham Forest Edge Brighton in Penalty Drama
Nottingham Forest stunned Brighton & Hove Albion with a nerve-racking penalty shootout victory after a 1-1 draw in regular time.
Ryan Yates scored the decisive penalty, marking Forest’s first FA Cup semi-final appearance since 1991.
Goalkeeper Matz Sels was the hero, pulling off two crucial saves during the shootout.
Forest coach Steve Cooper called it a “historic night for the club.”
Aston Villa Dominate Preston
Aston Villa cruised to a 3-0 win over Preston North End, with Marcus Rashford scoring twice in his first goals for the club since joining on loan.
Jacob Ramsey added the final blow to secure Villa’s place in the semis.
“We’re playing with confidence, and it shows,” said manager Unai Emery.
Manchester City Fight Back
Manchester City overcame a tough Bournemouth side with a 2-1 comeback victory.
After conceding an early goal to Evanilson, Erling Haaland redeemed himself with an equalizer after missing a penalty.
Substitute Omar Marmoush sealed the win late on.
“The players showed incredible resilience,” said City boss Pep Guardiola.
Semi-Final Draw Revealed
The semi-final draw has set the stage for thrilling matches:
Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City
Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa
These fixtures will take place at Wembley Stadium on the weekend of April 26-27, with the final scheduled for May 17. Nottingham Forest, the underdogs, face the daunting task of taking on Manchester City, while Crystal Palace and Aston Villa promise a tightly contested encounter.
As anticipation builds, all eyes are on Wembley to see which teams will secure a spot in the coveted FA Cup final.
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