The semifinals of the FA Cup are set and this season promises showpiece events that are a little different to usual. Admittedly frequent winners Manchester City are still in the mix but alongside them are three of the Premier League's middle class, the sort of sides for whom a trip down Wembley Way tends to mean the tension of a playoff final rather than the dreams of what might happen at the traditional end point of the English season. Crystal Palace were the first to earn their place in the hat for the semifinal draw, crushing Fulham on the road and setting the tone for a weekend where it was the away fans celebrating cup glory.
Nottingham Forest went all the way to a shootout to find a way past Brighton and Hove Albion. No such drama for Aston Villa on Sunday as they cruised past the last remaining Championship side in the competition, Preston North End beaten 3-0 at Deepdale. The best of the action came at the end, Manchester City's season seemingly on the brink at half time after Evanilson turned in for Bournemouth.
Pep Guardiola's side got a measure of revenge for a defeat earlier in the season that seemed to fling them into turbulence, an inspired display from substitute Nico O'Reilly swinging the contest. First, he rolled a precise cross in for Erling Haaland to score before providing the winner for Omar Marmoush. Semifinal draw Crystal Palace vs.
Aston Villa Nottingham Forest vs. Manchester City Ties will be played on the weekend of April 26 and 27. Crystal Palace Be.