FA Cup: Chelsea and Aston Villa secure significant wins while Newcastle triumphs over Sunderland

Newcastle finally ended their 13-year wait to defeat their bitter rivals Sunderland in the FA Cup third round, thanks to Alexander Isak’s impressive performance, which led to a 3-0 victory. Meanwhile, Chelsea also secured their place in the last 32 with a dominant 4-0 win against Preston, and Aston Villa secured a late 1-0 victory against Middlesbrough. In the highly anticipated Tyne and Wear derby, Newcastle took control of the game with Dan Ballard’s own goal in the first half, followed by Isak’s two goals in the second half at the Stadium of Light.

This win was significant for Newcastle, as they had previously lost six out of their last seven encounters with Sunderland.

The victory not only brought an end to their derby drought since 2011 but also provided a much-needed boost for Newcastle, who had suffered four consecutive defeats in various competitions.

Despite the uncertainty of whether this win against a second-tier opponent will have a transformative effect on their season, the local pride and joy displayed by the 6,000 Newcastle fans at the final whistle was undeniable.

Newcastle coach Eddie Howe expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, highlighting their composure and bravery on the pitch.

He believed that this victory would have a positive impact on the team, providing hope for the future.

The rivalry between Newcastle and Sunderland, although not as glamorous as the Manchester or north London derbies, is intense due to the close proximity of the clubs. This was evident in a recent incident where Sunderland had to apologize to their fans after a stadium bar was decorated in Newcastle colors in the visitors’ section.

To prevent any violent clashes, Newcastle fans were transported to the stadium in a large police convoy and were given their tickets separately.

Newcastle maintained their composure amidst the intense atmosphere in the stands and took the lead in the 35th minute when Ballard unintentionally redirected Joelinton’s cross into his own net. Sunderland’s lackadaisical defending gifted Newcastle their second goal just a minute into the second half, as Almiron dispossessed Pierre Ekwah inside the penalty area and set up Isak to score from close range. In the 90th minute, Ballard’s foul on Anthony Gordon resulted in a penalty, which Isak successfully converted, sealing Newcastle’s victory.

Meanwhile, at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea, who have been inconsistent in the Premier League, comfortably defeated Preston with three goals in a span of 11 minutes in the second half. Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Chelsea, has encouraged his players to view the FA Cup as an opportunity to secure a place in Europe, considering their disappointing form in the league.

Responding to this message, Armando Broja scored a header in the 58th minute to break Preston’s resistance. Thiago Silva added a second goal from a corner, and Raheem Sterling sealed the victory with a superb free-kick. Enzo Fernandez tapped in the fourth goal in the 85th minute, completing the rout.

Aston Villa, who are just two points behind league leaders Liverpool, needed a late strike from Matty Cash in the 88th minute to overcome Championship side Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Cash’s shot took a deflection off Middlesbrough’s Emmanuel Latte Lath, sparing Villa from a replay. In a surprising turn of events, non-league Maidstone United, the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition, secured a 1-0 victory against Stevenage, advancing to the fourth round for the first time in their history.

Despite a 69-place gap between the two teams, Maidstone United made history as Sam Corne converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time, prompting jubilant celebrations from the fans who flooded the pitch at the final whistle. Bournemouth staged an impressive comeback, overturning a two-goal deficit at halftime to defeat second-tier QPR 3-2, with goals from Marcus Tavernier, Kieffer Moore, and Justin Kluivert. Brighton, inspired by Joao Pedro’s brace, emerged victorious with a 4-2 win against Championship side Stoke.

AFP