Chelsea comfortably defeated Preston North End 4-0 in the FA Cup, while Aston Villa narrowly overcame Middlesbrough.
Chelsea convincingly defeated Preston North End 4-0, securing their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup. On the other hand, Aston Villa celebrated a remarkable victory as Matty Cash’s late strike sealed the win against Middlesbrough.
Armando Broja played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s dominant triumph over Preston North End, securing a resounding 4-0 victory in the third round of the FA Cup. Despite facing challenges such as injuries and tough competition from Nicolas Jackson, who is currently representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, the Albanian forward showcased his talent and determination on Saturday. Broja showcased his aerial prowess by expertly heading in a cross from Malo Gusto in the 58th minute, kickstarting Chelsea’s scoring spree in the second half.
After Broja’s goal, the match, which had been unexciting in the first half, took a turn for the better. Chelsea stepped up their offensive efforts and, not long after, Thiago Silva, a seasoned defender who had just joined the game, scored a powerful header from Cole Palmer’s corner, increasing their lead in the 66th minute. Raheem Sterling then extended the gap even further with a skillfully executed free-kick.
Enzo Fernandez sealed Chelsea’s dominance as the match drew to a close by finding the net. The confirmation of his goal through a VAR review was necessary before the official celebrations could commence.
Aston Villa secured their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a narrow victory over Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. The match appeared to be heading towards a goalless draw until the 87th minute when Matty Cash unleashed a powerful shot from outside the penalty area. The ball took a fortunate deflection off Middlesbrough’s Emmanuel Latte Lath and found the back of the net, securing Cash’s fourth goal of the season.
This win holds great significance for Aston Villa, as it marks their first progression beyond the third round since their triumph over Wycombe in 2016. With a rich history of seven FA Cup titles, the club had been eagerly awaiting a moment like this, as their last trophy lift occurred back in 1957.
The game against Middlesbrough presented numerous opportunities for Villa to assert their dominance. One particularly thrilling moment came early in the second half when Jhon Duran leapt to connect with a corner kick, only to see his header narrowly miss the target and roll out of play.
Nicolo Zaniolo also came close to altering the scoreline with a long-range effort that narrowly went wide. However, it was ultimately Cash who proved to be the decisive factor, ensuring Villa’s continued success in the 2023/24 season.
