Marco Asensio struck twice as Aston Villa overcame a stubborn Cardiff City side 2-0 at Villa Park on Friday, sealing their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2015.
Unai Emery’s side struggled to break down the Championship outfit for much of the match, but Asensio’s second-half brace ensured a deserved victory.
“We had to stay patient,” Emery said. “Cardiff defended well, but we controlled the game and found our chances in the end.”
The Spaniard, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, has now netted four times in six games for Villa, quickly becoming a key figure in their attack.
Despite a crucial Champions League tie at Club Brugge looming, Emery named a strong lineup, while Cardiff boss Omar Riza prioritized his side’s survival battle by fielding a weakened team.
Villa dominated possession, testing Cardiff goalkeeper Ethan Horvath multiple times through John McGinn, Leon Bailey, and Marcus Rashford.
Cardiff nearly stole a shock lead when Yousef Salech forced a save from Emiliano Martinez, but moments later, Villa broke through.
Rashford, finding space on the right, squared for Asensio to slot home in the 68th minute. The Spaniard then sealed the win in the 80th, calmly finishing from Bailey’s pass.
Villa will now turn their attention to Tuesday’s Champions League clash, while their FA Cup dream remains alive.
