Evan Ferguson got on the scoresheet once again in the FA Cup with a second-half brace as Brighton beat Grimsby Town 5-0 to book their place in the semi-finals.
The Republic of Ireland striker, who will link up with Stephen Kenny's squad for the upcoming international window, underlined his potential with his second and third goals in this season's edition - and his seventh goal in all competitions for the Seagulls' senior set-up during the 2022-23 campaign.
While the Premier League side can look ahead to a last-four clash with the winners of the tie between Manchester United and Fulham, it emphatically ended fourth-tier Grimsby's dream run in the FA Cup.
Brighton's suspended boss Roberto de Zerbi had a bird's eye view from the stands as his Seagulls dominated the game, with Brighton constantly pouring forward against a team 76 positions below them in the English football pyramid.
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The home side went ahead in the sixth minute when Deniz Undav pounced on a loose ball in the box to score after Moises Caicedo's shot from distance was saved. But Grimsby held on to go into the break down just one goal.
Six minutes after the break, however, Brighton doubled their lead through Ferguson when the 18-year-old centre forward expertly controlled a high ball from Alexis Mac Allister before turning on the spot to fire home.
Ferguson had the ball in the net minutes later for a goal that was ruled out for offside but he managed to get his second when he was put through by Undav, finishing with aplomb when he had only the keeper to beat.
Brighton made it 4-0 when Adam Webster scooped the ball into the box where Solly March scored with a stooping header for his eighth goal of the season before Kaoru Mitoma wrapped up the win at the death with a shot that was deflected in.
Sheffield United came from behind twice to edge Blackburn Rovers 3-2 in an entertaining tie after Tommy Doyle's superb 91st minute strike on Sunday booked a Wembley trip where they have been drawn against Manchester City.
With the score at 2-2 in added time, Doyle fired a shot from 25 metres that arrowed into the top corner with keeper Aynsley Pears unable to palm it away despite getting a hand to it.
In a contest between two second-tier teams vying for promotion to the Premier League, Blackburn took the lead in the 21st minute when they were awarded a penalty for Jack Robinson's handball after a VAR check, which was converted by Ben Brereton.
Blackburn's Sam Gallagher then scored an own goal seven minutes later after Max Lowe's shot from range took a deflection off the striker's knee to nestle in the corner of the net.
Gallagher made amends on the hour when he sprang the offside trap to put the Republic of Ireland-qualifed Sammie Szmodics through as the midfielder restored Blackburn's lead by firing low past keeper Wes Foderingham.
United forward Oli McBurnie then produced a moment of magic in the 81st when he turned a defender in the box, powered past another and slid the ball beyond Pears to make it 2-2 before Doyle, on loan from Manchester City, scored his late winner.
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Watch Republic of Ireland v Latvia in an international friendly on Wednesday from 7pm live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra
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