Loan stars Rashford and Asensio shine again as Villa raid Brighton
DOS A CERO: Aston Villa's Marco Asensio scores their side's second goal of the game during the Premier League match at the American Express Stadium, Brighton. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire.
Marcus Rashford struck his first Premier League goal for Aston Villa to set his side on course for a comprehensive 3-0 win over fellow European hopefuls Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
The on-loan Manchester United forward added to his brace in Saturday's 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final success away to Preston by bobbling home a 51st-minute finish after Villa countered from a Seagulls corner.
In-form Marco Asensio doubled the lead 12 minutes from time with his eighth goal in his last seven appearances before fellow substitute Donyell Malen's maiden goal for the club sealed victory in the 10th minute of added time.
Albion were frustrated to be denied a quick-fire equaliser after Rashford's milestone goal when winger Simon Adingra's close-range effort was disallowed following a VAR check. Fabian Hurzeler's hosts also hit the woodwork through Yasin Ayari's first-half free-kick before slipping to eighth place.
Villa arrived in Sussex buoyed by reaching a first FA Cup semi-final since finishing runners-up 10 years ago, while Albion were seeking a response to the disappointment of a penalty shoot-out exit at home to Nottingham Forest.
Matty Cash fizzed a rising drive just over with the visitors' best opportunity, while Adingra's curling effort drifted narrowly wide at the other end following a swift counter-attack led by Mitoma.
Brighton wanted a penalty in the 28th minute when winger Mitoma was nudged over by right-back Cash.
The incident prompted a disagreement on the touchline as Villa manager Unai Emery took issue with Albion boss Hurzeler leaving his technical area to protest against the decision of referee Stuart Attwell.
The away side seized the initiative just six minutes into the second period with a route-one counter-attack launched by Martinez.
After comfortably catching Jan Paul van Hecke's header from a Seagulls corner, the Argentinian World Cup winner rolled the ball to Morgan Rogers, whose long, diagonal ball sent England international Rashford racing clear to scuff beyond Bart Verbruggen.
The Seagulls thought they had equalised four minutes later.
However, following Attwell's trip to the pitch-side monitor, Mitoma was deemed to have handled Ayari's lofted pass into the box, prior to Adingra sweeping home after Martinez failed to claim the loose ball.
Having initially responded well to falling behind, Brighton were dealt a knockout blow in the 78th minute.
Ireland Under 21 defender Eiran Cashin, on for his Brighton debut in place of captain Lewis Dunk, was caught out trying to intercept Cash's ball forward, allowing Rogers to race down the right and pick out prolific Paris St Germain loanee Asensio, who calmly found the bottom right corner with a fine, first-time finish.
Netherlands forward Malen compounded their misery by thumping a low shot into the bottom left corner to secure Villa's sixth successive victory in all competitions.
Verbruggen, Hinshelwood (Wieffer 72),van Hecke, Dunk (Cashin 72), Estupinan, Gomez (Baleba 72), Ayari, Adingra, Gruda (O'Riley 84), Mitoma, Joao Pedro (Welbeck 72). Rushworth, March, Minteh, Tasker.
Martinez, Cash (Disasi 81), Konsa, Torres, Digne, Kamara, Tielemans (Onana 65), Rogers (Malen 88), McGinn, Ramsey (Asensio 65), Rashford (Watkins 65). Olsen, Mings, Garcia, Maatsen.
Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
