In a commanding performance at Deepdale, Marcus Rashford marked his resurgence with a brace, leading Aston Villa to a 3-0 victory over Preston North End in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday. The win secured Villa’s place in the semi-finals at Wembley, their first appearance at this stage in a decade, and kept alive their hopes of lifting the prestigious trophy for the first time since 1957.
Rashford, on loan from Manchester United since January, had endured a four-month goal drought prior to this match, with his last strikes coming against Everton on December 1, 2024. However, the 27-year-old England international silenced doubters with two clinical finishes in a five-minute span during the second half, proving his move to Villa Park is reigniting his career.
The breakthrough came in the 58th minute when Rashford latched onto a precise low cross from Lucas Digne, side-footing the ball past Preston goalkeeper David Cornell to open the scoring. Just five minutes later, he confidently dispatched a penalty—sending Cornell the wrong way—after Morgan Rogers was fouled in the box by Andrew Hughes. Jacob Ramsey sealedVilla’s dominance in the 71st minute, driving through the middle and firing a shot into the bottom corner, with Digne again providing the assist.
“It’s a great feeling,” Rashford told BBC Sport after the match. “I feel like I’ve been getting fitter and playing better football since I’ve been here. It’s always nice for a forward to get a goal, so hopefully it continues.” Reflecting on his fitness, he added, “I think I can still get fitter. I missed a lot of football before joining up with them. My body feels good, and I’m enjoying my football for now.”
Villa manager Unai Emery praised Rashford’s growing confidence, noting his tactical fit in the central striker role—a position that had previously dented his form at Manchester United. “He’s playing in the plan we did with him,” Emery said. “We decided to play him as a striker to get his quality and power. He made one step forward today, feeling comfortable and scoring goals.”
The match showcased Villa’s attacking depth, with Rogers nearly scoring himself—only to be denied by a goal-line clearance from Jayden Meghoma—before earning the penalty. Despite Preston’s resilient first-half display, which included a missed chance from Stefán Thórdarson, the Championship side couldn’t withstand Villa’s second-half onslaught. Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom acknowledged the decisive moment, saying, “That five-minute period took the game from us. Bang-bang, and the game’s gone.”
Rashford’s brace adds to his storied FA Cup record. Since his debut in the competition in March 2016, he has now scored 27 goals across domestic cup competitions—more than any other player in that span—and his five FA Cup quarter-final goals are the most since his arrival on the scene.
Rashford’s revitalization has also caught the eye of England manager Thomas Tuchel, who recently recalled him to the national team. With his Villa form blossoming, Rashford could yet achieve a rare feat: winning the FA Cup in consecutive seasons with different clubs, following in the footsteps of Olivier Giroud and Brian Talbot.