Marcus Rashford’s renaissance with Aston Villa took centre stage once more, as his crucial contribution set the tone for a decisive victory over Brighton at The Amex Stadium.
On loan from Manchester United, Rashford marked his presence with his first two goals for the Villans during their FA Cup quarter-final triumph over Preston North End. Building on that success, the England international found the net for the first time in the Premier League for Villa with a composed finish, capitalising on a swift counter-attack from a Brighton corner just six minutes into the second half.
Brighton, eager to respond, saw Simon Adingra’s effort ruled out due to a handball by Kaoru Mitoma in the build-up. The Seagulls were left frustrated as Aston Villa asserted control over the match.
With 12 minutes remaining, Marco Asensio—a loan acquisition from Paris Saint-Germain—benefited from Morgan Rogers’s unselfish play to smash the ball past Bart Verbruggen, securing Villa’s advantage. The victory was sealed in the final moments of 10 added minutes, as substitute Donyell Malen made his mark with a curling shot across Verbruggen, notching his first goal for the club.
This outcome dealt a blow to Brighton’s European aspirations while bolstering Villa’s pursuit of a top-four finish, as they look ahead to an FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace at Wembley and a Champions League quarter-final clash with PSG.
Rashford Proves His Mettle Under Emery’s Guidance
Under Unai Emery’s astute management, Rashford’s revival at Aston Villa has been methodical, rekindling his confidence and flair that had waned during his time at Manchester United under Ruben Amorim.
With an England recall already under his belt, Rashford returned to goal-scoring form at Deepdale, and his renewed self-assuredness shone brightly at The Amex Stadium. The 27-year-old showcased his quality with deft touches in the first half, unsettling Brighton’s defence from wide areas and drawing consistent applause from Emery on the touchline.
Emery, known for his ability to rejuvenate players, has facilitated Rashford’s resurgence by restoring his belief and bringing out his innate class, as evidenced in his composed finish to open the scoring. Seizing the opportunity presented by Brighton’s corner, Rashford sprinted from his own half, leaving defenders trailing, before deftly lifting the ball over Verbruggen.
Taking another significant step in his footballing revival away from Old Trafford, Rashford left the field to a standing ovation from Villa’s travelling supporters after 65 minutes. Emery’s tactical adjustments were equally impactful, with substitutions Marco Asensio and Donyell Malen—brought in from Borussia Dortmund in January—both netting crucial goals.
Fatigued Brighton Feel the Sting of Cup Defeat
The final whistle at The Amex Stadium was greeted by a mix of disappointment and frustration from Brighton’s faithful, a reflection of their despondency following a penalty shootout loss to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup quarter-final just days prior.
The exertion of extra time and penalties seemed to sap the Seagulls of their usual vigour, as they struggled to find rhythm against a resurgent Villa side, ultimately succumbing to a well-deserved defeat. The scoreline may have been unkind, yet Villa merited their victory, climbing above Brighton to occupy seventh place in the Premier League standings.
Brighton’s fleeting hope came when Adingra’s equaliser was ruled out for a handball, after Rashford had put Villa in front. Villa capitalised on this reprieve to outpace a weary Brighton, enhancing their prospects in both league and cup competitions.
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