FA Cup semi-final draw confirmed as Aston Villa, Man City and Co learn path to Wembley glory
THE FA CUP semi-final draw has been completed and Wembley will be hosting some smashing encounters.
Manchester City or Bournemouth will lock horns with Nottingham Forest, while Aston Villa will battle Crystal Palace.
Palace were the first team to punch their ticket to the semis after beating Fulham 3-0 on Saturday at Craven Cottage.
Oliver Glasner’s men made it through thanks to goals by Eberechi Eze, Ismaila Sarr and Eddie Nketiah.
Forest followed the Eagles soon after as they won their third penalty shootout in the competition this season at Brighton after a goalless draw.
The Tricky Trees’ captain Ryan Yates scored the winning spot-kick to make it 4-3, while goalkeeper Matz Sels made two big saves.
Villa just became the third team to make the final four as they destroyed Preston North End with a score of 3-0 at Deepdale.
Marcus Rashford broke his goalscoring duck with the Villans after his January loan switch from Manchester United as he registered a brace before Jacob Ramsey added the third.
City and Bournemouth will now lock horns for the final spot in the FA Cup semi-finals when they meet at the Vitality Stadium.
The reigning Premier League champions are the only team left of the Big Six in the competition and will be chasing their eighth cup – same as Villa.
Forest, on the other hand, have only lifted the trophy twice in their history, with their last triumph taking place way back in 1959, while Bournemouth and Palace have never won it.
The semi-finals are scheduled to take place on the weekend of April 26 and 27 at Wembley.
And the winners will meet in the final at the same venue on May 17.
FA Cup semi-final draw
Here's the final pairs for the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley:
Nottingham Forest vs Bourmemouth/Man City
Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa