Aston Villa secured their place within the FA Cup fifth spherical with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park.
Regardless of a late scare from the guests, Unai Emery’s facet delivered a dominant efficiency, creating quite a few probabilities and in the end holding on to assert a well-deserved win.
The sport acquired off to a sensational begin for the hosts as Jacob Ramsey put Villa forward inside the opening minute.
Morgan Rogers’ incisive play in midfield noticed him glide previous three Spurs gamers earlier than threading a wonderfully weighted cross into Ramsey’s path.
The midfielder’s shot was straight at Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, however the younger stopper didn’t take care of it, permitting the ball to squirm by him and into the online.
Villa continued to dominate proceedings all through the primary half, making a string of probabilities.
Donyell Malen, Leon Bailey, Youri Tielemans, and Rogers all examined Kinsky, however Spurs one way or the other managed to keep away from additional punishment.
We exit the FA Cup. pic.twitter.com/DJAxB1oHOX
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 9, 2025
Tottenham, however, struggled to create a lot in assault, with their finest likelihood falling to Heung-min Son, who compelled a powerful save from Emiliano Martinez halfway by the half. On the break, regardless of Villa’s management, the rating remained simply 1-0.
Tottenham got here out with extra intent within the second half, with Yves Bissouma, Dejan Kulusevski, and Son all having early efforts blocked as they sought a approach again into the sport.
Nevertheless, Villa maintained their attacking menace and have been lastly rewarded for his or her stress simply after the hour mark.
Malen performed a fast one-two with Bailey earlier than driving a low ball throughout the face of purpose. Pedro Porro’s determined clearance fell straight to Rogers, who made no mistake from shut vary to double Villa’s lead.
Spurs, now chasing the sport, pressed ahead however have been wasteful in entrance of purpose. Mathys Tel, Danso, and Son all had alternatives to drag one again.
Substitute Marcus Rashford had an opportunity to place the sport past doubt late on, however his heavy contact noticed the chance slip away.
As the sport entered stoppage time, Tottenham lastly discovered a breakthrough. Kulusevski whipped in a wonderful cross from the proper, and Tel met it with a deft outside-of-the-foot volley, guiding the ball into the far nook.
The purpose gave Spurs a glimmer of hope with 4 minutes left to play, however Villa held on to safe the win.
The win means Villa advance to the FA Cup fifth spherical for the primary time because the 2014-15 marketing campaign, once they reached the ultimate.
For Tottenham, nonetheless, it marks one other irritating exit from a home cup competitors, including to their latest struggles beneath Ange Postecoglou.
Spurs’ incapability to take their probabilities and their defensive frailties as soon as once more proved pricey, leaving their hopes for silverware this season hanging by a thread.
