Aston Villa, with goals from Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Rogers, defeated Tottenham 2-1, advancing to the FA Cup Round of 16 and leaving their opponent with only one remaining title opportunity this season: the Europa League.

The team led by Ange Postecoglou saw its chance to salvage a disappointing season with a prestigious trophy slip away. Sitting in 14th place in the Premier League and already eliminated from the EFL Cup, their only remaining hope to redeem their inconsistent campaign is the Europa League.

In contrast, Aston Villa continues to shine. The goals from Ramsey and Rogers keep them alive in three competitions: they are fighting for a top-four finish in the Premier League, have already secured a spot in the Champions League Round of 16, and were only knocked out early from the EFL Cup after losing to Crystal Palace.

A Lightning-Fast Start

Aston Villa’s strong run is a result of Unai Emery’s excellent work, keeping all his players engaged and ready to compete. On Sunday, the team came out firing and made it count just 58 seconds into the game, when Ramsey fired a left-footed shot from the edge of the box after a well-executed team play. His strike beat goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, one of Tottenham’s winter signings.

That early goal was a devastating blow for Spurs, who never fully recovered. Despite Aston Villa’s dominance, the scoreline remained close thanks to Kinsky, who made key saves against Leon Bailey and was fortunate when another attempt by Ramsey struck the post.

Sealing the Win Against Tottenham

In the second half, Rogers delivered the final blow with an easy finish, capitalizing on an assist from Marco Asensio, who made his debut for the team after replacing Bailey in the final 25 minutes. The former Real Madrid midfielder showcased his quality with his setup for Rogers, though the forward later missed a clear chance to extend the lead.

Another notable debut was that of Marcus Rashford, who came on at the same time as Asensio. The English forward returned to action after a period of inactivity due to his strained relationship with Rúben Amorim at Manchester United. In fact, he hadn’t played since December 12, 2024, when he featured in a Europa League match against Plzen.

Tottenham, nearly resigned to defeat, added some late drama with a stoppage-time goal from Mathys Tel, but it was too little, too late. Now, the London club must shift its focus to the Europa League, its last chance to salvage what has been a forgettable season so far.