Marcus Rashford secured his first two goals for Aston Villa in a 3-0 victory against Preston, propelling his team to the FA Cup semi-finals.
The Manchester United loanee netted twice within five minutes around the hour mark, breaking the deadlock against the resilient Championship side at Deepdale.
Jacob Ramsey later added a third goal, confirming Villa's spot in the semi-finals for the first time in a decade.
Rashford took the spotlight, showcasing his resurgence after a period of limited opportunities at Old Trafford.
Operating as the main striker, the 27-year-old played a crucial role in a game where Villa controlled proceedings against a determined Preston side.
Preston's quarter-final appearance, their first since 1966, was overshadowed by injuries, including the absence of goalkeeper Freddie Woodman and defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden, who couldn't face his parent club Villa.
Despite a promising early opportunity for Preston, Villa gradually took control but struggled to break down the opponent's solid defense.
After several attempts, Rashford finally found the net with a clinical finish, following a well-executed team play involving Marco Asensio and Lucas Digne.
Rashford doubled his tally from the penalty spot after a foul on Morgan Rogers, effectively sealing the victory for Villa.
Ramsey further extended Villa's lead with an impressive goal, putting the game out of reach for Preston.
Although Villa had more scoring chances towards the end, the three goals proved to be enough to secure their place in the FA Cup semi-finals.