Marco Asensio's brace blasts Aston Villa into FA Cup quarter-finals

The Spanish forward bagged a brace in a 2-0 victory over Championship side Cardiff City at Villa Park, with Marcus Rashford playing a key role in the opener. Unai Emery's men are now dreaming of silverware as the competition opens up.

Asensio, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, struck twice after the break - his first set up by a sharp Rashford assist in the 68th minute, and his second a cool finish from Leon Bailey's pass 12 minutes later.

The 29-year-old has now netted four goals in six games since arriving in January, while Rashford, borrowed from Manchester United, has chipped in with three assists. Their impact has Villa fans buzzing about a potential FA Cup run.

Emery praised the duo's growing influence. "They are adapting well to how we play," he said. "Each one is finding their rhythm, and the players around them are spotting the spaces to exploit. They'll be massive for us in the games ahead."

With Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea already knocked out, Villa are emerging as serious contenders, despite Emery's pre-match caution. "We weren't favourites before, but this is a step forward," he added. "Teams like Manchester City, Manchester United, and Newcastle still have the edge, but this competition offers us a shot at a trophy, Wembley, and even Europa League qualification. The supporters are right behind us."

Cardiff, battling relegation in the Championship, put up a fight until Asensio's opener. Manager Omer Riza, who had prioritised league survival over cup glory, rested key players but was proud of his team's resilience. "We frustrated them for a long time," he said. "Villa are a Champions League outfit, so to hold out until the 68th minute shows our focus. We switched off for two moments, and their quality punished us. That defensive grit is something we'll take into the league."

The game was a slog early on. Rashford and John McGinn tested Cardiff keeper Ethan Horvath with stinging efforts, while Ollie Watkins fluffed a golden chance, poking wide from close range. Villa dominated possession - prompting ironic cheers of "we've got the ball" from the away end - but struggled to break through until Asensio's late heroics. Cardiff nearly stole a shock lead when Yousef Salech met Perry Ng's cross, only for Emiliano Martinez to deny him.

This win comes days after Villa's 4-1 Premier League hammering at Crystal Palace, offering a timely boost ahead of their Champions League clash with Club Brugge. On X, Emery hailed the result, posting: "Proud of the team's fight tonight. Into the next round - let's keep pushing!" Asensio echoed the sentiment, tweeting: "Two goals, three points, quarter-finals. Great night with the Villa faithful!"

For a general football audience, this is a tale of Villa seizing their moment. With the big guns faltering, Emery's blend of grit and flair - powered by Asensio and Rashford - has them on the cusp of something special. Cardiff head back to their relegation scrap, but Villa's eyes are firmly on Wembley.

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