Aston Villa 2 Cardiff City 0 - Report
One positive of this Villa season is things have never stayed bad for long.
Three days after suffering a chastening Premier League defeat at Crystal Palace, Unai Emery’s team moved into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win over Cardiff.
Two cool second half finishes from Marco Asensio were enough to see them past the Championship visitors.
The Paris St-Germain loanee, who netted his second brace in as many home matches, brought vital calm and quality to an evening which had been frustrating for Emery’s team through the first three-quarters as their own poor finishing and the brilliance of Bluebirds goalkeeper Ethan Horvath kept the match goal-less.
Villa dominated possession and territory, registering 25 shots on goal to Cardiff’s four. But they lacked the killer instinct until Asensio eased growing nerves when he converted Marcus Rashford’s 68th minute pull back. Twelve minutes later he showed similar precision to beat Horvath again and ensure Villa would progress to the last eight of the Cup for the first time since they last reached the final a decade ago.
This tie, against a Cardiff team featuring six changes from their previous league match, had looked a home banker on paper but for a long time it was anything straightforward.
Horvath twice denied Ollie Watkins in the first half before saving from John McGinn and Rashford after the break. The Manchester United loanee had earlier skied a guilt-edged chance over the bar from four yards out and his hunt for a first Villa goal continued, with a fine block from Joel Bagan also denying him after Asensio had broken the deadlock.
Rashford, making his second Villa start, had the first effort on goal of the match but his free-kick was straight at Horvath, as was a curling effort from John McGinn from just outside the box.
Horvath’s first serious save denied Ollie Watkins the opener. The Villa striker looked to slip the ball past the USA international having been played through on goal but the latter thrust out a leg at the last minute to divert it just wide.
Aaron Ramsey then threw himself in the way of a Tielemans shot after Rashford had beaten his man and pulled the ball back invitingly into the midfielder’s path.
Cardiff were camped in their own half but a rare attack for them ended with Anwar El Ghazi appealing for a penalty after being barged over by Ian Maatsen. Any concern for Villa was quickly quelled by a raised assistant’s flag.
Leon Bailey was beginning to get into the game and after testing the palms of Horvath with a stinging drive, the winger then drove to the byline and delivered a cross which should have led to Rashford’s first Villa goal. Instead, he skied the effort over from inside the six-yard box.
As half-time approached the visitors were growing in confidence. Perry Ng went down in the box after being challenged by Lamare Bogarde and referee Peter Bankes, along with his VAR, saw no case for a penalty despite replays showing the attacker was clipped.
There was still time for one more chance for Villa but again it wasn’t taken. Rashford headed the ball into the danger zone and Horvath stuck out an arm to deny Watkins at point-blank range.
The keeper demonstrated his reflexes again early in the second half to push away McGinn’s bouncing effort which he did not see until late.
Horvath came to the visiting team’s rescue again when he kept out Rashford’s powerful drive from distance and the hosts were then further frustrated, as Watkins placed an effort wide of the far post.
At that point Cardiff had recorded just one touch in the Villa box but they got their second when Yousef Salach got on the end of Perry Ng’s cross and Emi Martinez was called into action for the first time all night.
Perhaps the home side heeded the warning as two minutes later they were ahead. Tielemans lofted the ball into the box and Rashford diverted it into the path of Asensio, who swept home his third Villa goal.
Cardiff showed no signs of folding despite going behind and a superb block from substitute Bagan saw Rashford again thwarted after Watkins had rounded Horvath.
But with 10 minutes remaining Asensio put the tie beyond doubt with another cool finish, slotting into the corner after Watkins had dummied Bailey’s pass.
Emery brought Morgan Rogers, given a rare rest, off the bench in the closing stages and he should have added to Villa’s tally but skied over.
Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez, Garcia, Konsa, Bogarde, Maatsen (Digne 82), McGinn, Tielemans, Bailey, Asensio (Jimoh 82), Rashford (Rogers 82), Watkins (Ramsey 82) Subs not used: Rowe, Kamara, Olsen (gk), Zych (gk).
Cardiff (3-4-2-1): Horvath, Fish, Goutas, Lawlor (Ashford 81), Ng, Ramsey (Robertson 64), Colwill, Giles (Bagan 64), El Ghazi, Willock (Davies 81), Robinson (Salech HT) Subs not used: O’Dowda, Mannsverk, Nyakuhwa, Turner (gk).
