Manchester City were made to work for their place in the Emirates FA Cup quarter-finals as they defeated Plymouth Argyle 3-1.
AFC Bournemouth beat out Wolverhampton Wanderers in a thriller at the Vitality Stadium as the Cherries advanced on penalties.
Premier League side Crystal Palace battled past ten-man Millwall 3-1 while Preston North End secured a spot in the last eight of the competition for the first time since 1966 after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Burnley.
Millwall keeper Liam Roberts was sent off for a high-footed challenge which made contact with Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta’s head.
The Eagles opened the scoring after 33 minutes when Will Hughes’ first-time left-footed cross was turned into his own net by Millwall’s Japhet Tanganga.
The 25-year-old defender was unable to direct his header away from goal before the home side doubled their lead seven minutes later.
It's another for @CPFC, thanks to Daniel Muñoz! 🦅
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 1, 2025
It was ruled out initially for offside, but VAR stepped in to confirm that the ball came off Tanganga last#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/yv007jZ2Du
Daniel Muñoz reacted quickest to poke the ball past substitute keeper Lukas Jensen after Billy Mitchell’s clearance ricocheted off Tanganga which played the Colombian onside.
The ten men of Millwall halved the deficit in first-half injury time after Wes Harding’s strike deflected off Ben Chilwell and past Palace keeper Matt Turner.
In a second half in which the visitors pressed for an equaliser, Eddie Nketiah’s looping header past the diving Jensen settled the tie with nine minutes remaining, after Chris Richards headed on from a Romain Esse free-kick.
In Lancashire, Preston North End’s Robbie Brady broke the deadlock after 31 minutes with a sublime 25-yard freekick that found the top corner of Burnley’s net.
This angle of Robbie Brady's incredible free-kick for @pnefc 😱#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/9M5VZKjOqf
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 1, 2025
It was the first goal the Clarets had conceded since 11th January when they beat Reading 3-1 in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side added a second goal just before half time when Milutin Osmajić burst into the penalty area and fired past Václav Hladký after being played through by teammate Brad Potts.
The tie was put to bed 16 minutes from time when Will Keane turned home from inside the six-yard box.
The 32-year-old forward finished off Andrew Hughes’ low cross after Stefán Thórdarson started the move with a brilliant diagonal long ball.
In the 3pm kick-off, AFC Bournemouth progressed to the Emirates FA Cup quarter-finals for just the third time in their history as they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-4 on penalties after the match finished 1-1 after 120 minutes.
Brazilian Evanilson scored his first goal since December when he tapped in on 31 minutes after visiting keeper Sam Johnstone could only parry Antoine Semenyo’s effort away.
The Cherries thought they had doubled their lead five minutes later when Milos Kerkez arrived at the back post to find the net following a corner but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Matheus Cunha equalised for Vítor Pereira’s side with a brilliant strike on the hour mark as he beat Bournemouth keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga with a fierce effort after picking the ball up 25 yards from goal.
A dramatic game. A dramatic penalty-shootout.
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 1, 2025
But it's Luis Sinisterra who sends @afcbournemouth through 🍒#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/QQhK2GNOSI
The match finished level after 90 minutes and stayed that way through extra time but it was not without drama as Cunha was sent off in the closing stages of the additional 30 minutes for violent conduct.
The first seven penalty kicks all found the net before misses from Dean Huijsen and Matt Doherty ensured the shootout went to sudden death when he fired his attempt down the middle.
Boubacar Traoré hit the bar with his penalty which meant Luis Sinisterra had the chance to settle proceedings, an opportunity the Colombian duly took.
In the game's final day, Manchester City came the closest to scoring first against Plymouth Argyle after 28 minutes when Ilkay Gundogan's curling effort hit the post after connecting with Jack Grealish’s cross from the left.
Having been on the back foot for much of the first half, the Championship side then took the lead ten minutes later when Ukrainian defender Maksym Talovierov headed home from close range from Matthew Sorinola’s corner.
Last year’s finalists levelled proceedings in first-half stoppage time when 19-year-old Nico O’Reilly met Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick with a glancing header that beat Conor Hazard.
Pep Guardiola’s side pressed for a second goal after half time and went close in the 75th minute when Erling Haaland saw his attempt thwarted by Hazard, with Bernado Silva unable to convert the follow up.
Nico O'Reilly at the double for @ManCity! 🤩
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 1, 2025
All his teammates came to celebrate with the youngster! 🩵#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/4NXr6SCj5M
However, O’Reilly gave the hosts the lead a minute later with his second headed goal of the game, connecting with Phil Foden’s corner at the back post.
De Bruyne added a third late on, meeting Haaland’s pass across the six-yard box, to ensure the seven-time winners of the competition progressed to the quarter finals for the seventh consecutive season.
