FA Cup Awards: Rashford's Remontada, Exquisite Eze
FA Cup Awards: Rashford's Remontada, Exquisite Eze
Our FA Cup Awards honour the best – and worst – of the weekend's quarter-final action, featuring Marcus Rashford and Eberechi Eze.
Moment of the Week
What a season this is turning out to be for Nottingham Forest.
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There's a romance about the FA Cup semi-final lineup, with perennial contenders Manchester City viewed largely as unwelcome guests in a last four made up three quarters by sides seeking to end trophy droughts.
Forest are flying in the Premier League, defying pre-season predictions of a relegation scrap to sit third in the table. Now, Nuno Espirito Santo's side face a first FA Cup semi-final since 1991 as the club look to end a 66-year wait for this trophy.
They squeezed past Brighton on penalties, their third successive shootout success in this season's competition. Nuno's nerveless side can plan for Wembley, with a historic season within their grasp in the coming weeks.
Player of the Week
For the first time in four months, Marcus Rashford is back on the scoresheet. An unceremonious exile and exit from Manchester United and bright start to his loan move at Aston Villa have filled that timeframe but now, finally, Rashford is up and running.
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It's the latest step in the Rashford renaissance. Since arriving at Aston Villa he's assisted regularly, earned an England recall and has now rediscovered his goalscoring groove. There will be tougher opponents than Preston and tougher chances than his brace at Deepdale, but here was Rashford looking much closer to his best level. His confidence is clearly on the rise, while there was a sharpness that was missing for much of his latter time at Old Trafford.
Villa was a surprise destination for Rashford but it's an environment that's begun to bring the best from him. This summer shapes as a huge decision in his career.
An honourable mention for Nico O'Reilly.
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The Manchester City youngster is loving the FA Cup this season and was a game-changer from the bench at Bournemouth. On at half-time, he set up both City goals from full-back in their 2-1 win, to extend his record to three goals and two assists in the FA Cup.
Pep Guardiola confirmed the 20-year-old will, deservedly, play in the semi-final.
Goal of the Week
How fun to watch is Eberechi Eze?
The man is a born entertainer and has certainly enjoyed a week to remember. A lovely solo goal opened his England account during the international break, before Eze turned on the style to send Crystal Palace into the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend.
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Fulham were one of several sides who passed over his talent as a youngster, but felt the full force of the player he has become.
It's, sadly, the harsh realities of football's financial hierarchy that Eze's gifts are likely be poached by wealthier clubs at some point. Palace should enjoy him while they can. A maiden major trophy would be some way to leave a legacy.
Save of the Week
Matz Sels has a strong case as the best goalkeeper in English football this season.
The Belgian has bailed Nottingham Forest out on plenty of occasions and did so again as the Tricky Trees edged past Brighton in the quarter-finals. A wonderful save from Diego Gomez in extra time ensured the clash ended goalless, before saves from Jack Hinshelwood and Gomez again in the shootout sent Forest through.
Stat of the Week
Manchester City are 145 years old but Pep Guardiola has now been responsible for 40% of club's FA Cup semi-final appearances (8/20).
It's a seventh straight season in the last four for the Citizens.
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