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The Birmingham based-outfit dominated the majority of the 90 minutes as they extended their unbeaten run to 11. Agbonlahor converted an Ashley Young corner in the first half before the visitors equalised through a Darren Ambrose penalty. Carew then scored two penalties of his own to put the tie beyond doubt and send his side into the quarter finals.
Villa started the stronger team in the opening minutes as they showed their Premier League experience and were rewarded with the first chance of the game. After a strong passing move, World Cup hopeful James Milner surged down the right hand side and fizzed in a ball across the six yard box. Gabriel Agbonlahor raced to the ball and attempted a sublime flick through his legs only for Shaun Derry to block the ball and then Julian Speroni dive on it.
Norwegian hit man John Carew then had a half chance as Ashley Young found some space out on the right and neatly curled in a ball that Carew awkwardly volleyed straight into the arms of Speroni.
Villa could have and perhaps should have taken the lead after 15 minutes when Agbonlahor turned Matt Lawrence and went through on goal. The lightening quick striker raced into the visitors’ box and lashed a left footed drive at goal but again, Speroni was equal to it.
Palace tried their best to string a number of passes together but often ran out of ideas as they ventured into the hosts’ half. The visitors also took on the decision to man mark Villa’s wingers which proved harder than they thought as the Palace box was bombarded with crosses throughout the first half.
Stephen Warnock then exchanged passes with Fabian Delph as the rampaging right-back surged into the Palace box. He collected a slick pass and looked destined to shoot but he unselfishly tried to square the ball for the onrushing Carew only to see his ball roll just beyond the reach of the Norwegian.
The south London-based outfit continued to try and play some attractive football, attempting to pass the ball as they did in the first leg but were unable to trouble Brad Guzan who was standing in for the rested Brad Friedel.
Villa continued to pressure the visitors and again had a good chance to take the lead through the ever-troublesome Milner. After some fantastic hold-up play from Carew, Milner received the ball just outside the penalty box and turned his marker to fizz a shot across the floor which fell into the hands of the thankful Palace stopper.
With three minutes left of the first half, Villa’s enormous amount of pressure paid off as they deservedly took the lead. A super in swinging corner from Young was converted intelligently by Agbonlahor who had to run away from goal and head the ball into the far corner from six yards. The goal was the striker’s 14th of the season.
The set-back finally brought Palace to life as they had their best spell of the first half. In the solitary minute of stoppage time they finally had a decent attempt on goal. Nick Carle ventured forward and hit a thunderous left-footed strike that had Guzan scrambling to his near post. Fortunately for the Villa keeper the ball sailed inches wide to preserve Villa’s lead as the half time whistle blew.
Palace started the second half as they did in the final minutes of the first half. They again held on to the ball well but in a similar fashion to the first half, they struggled to trouble Villa’s American ‘keeper.
The visitors continued to apply pressure and pinned Villa into their half and were rewarded with a succession of corners which they couldn’t convert.
First leg hero Ambrose again had a free kick just yards outside the Villa penalty area and hammered the ball towards Guzan’s goal. Richard Dunne bravely got his head in front of the ball that looked certain to be heading for the top corner.
The home side then settled down and could have doubled their advantage through Agbonlahor. Milner clipped a fantastic lobbed through ball over the top of the Palace defence that Agbonlahor latched onto. He continued into the box and struck a shot that Speroni again got down well to hold on to.
The Palace ‘keeper again stopped Villa just minutes later as Young travelled down the left hand side and attempted a curling effort that headed for the bottom right hand corner only for the Argentine to tip it inches round the post.
Palace then looked to take the game to Villa once more as the match opened up and Neil Danns was presented with a double chance. A long ball into the box fell to Danns who initially snatched at the ball which ricocheted off Richard Dunne and fell back to the midfielder. Danns then smashed the ball with his right foot across goal that narrowly went wide.
Palace then found themselves with a foothold back into the game after a flick on fell to former Villan Alan Lee. Warnock tried to beat Lee to the ball but ended up hacking the striker down. The visitors were awarded a penalty which Ambrose converted with consummate ease, sending the keeper the wrong way.
Villa then almost hit back instantly as John Carew drilled the ball across the six yard box. The ball evaded every Palace defender and fell to Young but he was unable to keep the ball down and blazed over from a tight angle.
Villa did hit back just 11 minutes from time as they were also awarded a penalty. Carew received the ball inside the opposition box, turning Lawrence he was dragged down and the referee pointed to the spot. The talismanic striker stepped up to take the penalty which he hammered down the middle of the goal.
Palace rallied to get back into the game but their hopes of an FA Cup quarter final were dashed when the home side were rewarded another penalty. Lawrence again brought down Carew after a silly tackle. Carew stepped up and again smashed the ball straight down the centre of the goal.
Villa deserved the win but were made to fight after a spirited Palace second half performance.
Source: goal.com
