Norwich full-back Max Aarons reached the last four with a comfortable victory over Chelsea's Emerson.

In a tournament first it was goalless at half-time as the two played out a cagey opening period. There were half chances but neither were able to create that meaningful chance.

"I can feel it's a bit tense. Neither of us are taking too many risks. I think I've just edged it so it's just about taking my chances now," said Max.

Well, he certainly took his chances after the break.

First, Onel Hernandez got to the byline and cut-back for Teemu Pukki to tap home before Kenny McLean doubled Max's advantage.

"There was a big half-time team-talk and the boys have come out firing," he said.

He made it three, or "game, set, match" as he called it, with Emi Buendia before Oliver Giroud scored a late consolation for Emerson.

Max will face Sheffield United defender John Egan in Saturday's semi-finals.

Sheffield United defender John Egan weathered a first-half storm to beat Republic of Ireland teammate and Brighton forward Aaron Connolly to reach the last four.

Connolly said he felt confident in the build-up and he dominated for large parts of the first half but, after missing a penalty with his own character, found himself behind when Oliver Norwood scored.

"You've got away with a bit," said Aaron at half-time.

His dominance continued in the first part of the second half and it eventually turned into goals as Aaron Mooy and Connolly himself scored.

After Mooy's goal Egan said: "I wish it was Aaron through on goal, he'd have skied it." Oh, how he regretted those words.

Egan pulled level through John Lundstram, and with golden goal looking likely Lys Mousset latched onto a through-ball and fired beautifully across the keeper.

As the game restarted Egan kept the ball, looking to take the sting out of the game, something Aaron was less than happy about.

"That's a disgraceful way to be playing," he said. "I'm just waiting for the opportunity," responded John.

After a 20+ pass move the opportunity did eventually arrive as Mousset stroked home a cutback, causing Connolly to launch his controller across the room. We've all been there!

Egan said he was "buzzing" to progress and Aaron said "of course I want him to go on and win it".

The Sheffield United man will face Emerson or Max Aarons in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Aston Villa striker Keinan Davis justified the tournament favourite tag with an eight-goal demolition of Burnley left-back Charlie Taylor.

The game was over in the first half-hour as Davis strolled into a four-goal lead thanks to goals from his own game character, John McGinn and a brace from Jack Grealish.

"I don't want to look at the stats. It has been shocking from the first minute. It's getting embarrassing," said Charlie at half-time.

He showed promise at the start of the second half as Chris Wood pulled one back and he squandered a number of other chances.

However, the pattern of play from the first half soon returned as Davis ran in four more goals.

"It's getting embarrassing now. He's unbelievable. I can't get anywhere near him," said Charlie after the sixth goal.

At full-time Charlie said "surely he's going to go on and win it now".

Davis will face Leicester playmaker James Maddison in the final four.

Leicester City midfielder James Maddison reached the final four after an enthralling golden goal win over Southampton forward Michael Obafemi.

Throughout the tournament so far James has had plenty to say and that continued pre-match. "I wish him all the best and I just hope that the 9-0 in real life isn't getting in his head and he's just concentrating on Fifa," he said.

Michael, laughing and clapping, responded: "We went to their ground and buried them. The same is 100% going to happen here."

Obafemi took the lead through his own in-game character and kissed the badge, before doubling his lead though Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - leading to the "shushhhh' celebration coming out.

On the stroke of half-time Maddison pulled one back through Jamie Vardy. "He's getting lucky, I've dominated the ball. He's just took his chances, he looks nervous to me," the former Norwich man said at half-time.

He dominated the opening exchanges of the second period and hit the bar with a Vardy header. "I tell you what, there's only one team that's going to go on and win this," he said.

He looked to be right when his own character and Kelechi Iheanacho put him in the lead but Michael responded immediately through Danny Ings.

"What a game" James said at full-time with the score level, but with golden goal barely underway, he wriggled free of the defender and slotted home, causing Michael to walk off, hands in head.

"I've left myself down. I can't speak," Michael said, clearly gutted to lose.

"Jose Mourinho won Premier League titles off the back of mind games so I think that was definitely a big thing," said James. "I thought I was living in his head free rent, I could tell he got nervous at the start of golden goal."

Maddison will face Keinan Davis Saturday's semi-finals.

Friday 8 May - quarter-finals

Michael Obafemi (Southampton) 3-4 James Maddison (Leicester)

Keinan Davis (Aston Villa) 8-1 Charlie Taylor (Burnley)

Aaron Connolly (Brighton) 2-4 John Egan (Sheff Utd)

Emerson Palmieri (Chelsea) 1-3 Max Aarons (Norwich)

Saturday 9 May - semi-finals and final

Semi-finals

John Egan v Max Aarons

James Maddison v Keinan Davis

Final to follow.

Image source, Premier League

If you've missed the last two days, fear not, you can catch up with all the best moments below.

Here is a full list of everyone participating for each club. Unlike the first edition of the ePL Invitational there's much more of a mix of players from the respective clubs and celebrity fans of the clubs participating on their behalf.

Arsenal - Micheal Ward - eliminated in round one

Aston Villa - Keinan Davis

Bournemouth - Callum Wilson - eliminated in round one

Brighton - Aaron Connolly - eliminated in quarter-finals

Burnley - Charlie Taylor - eliminated in quarter-finals

Chelsea - Emerson Palmieri - eliminated in quarter-finals

Crystal Palace - Max Meyer - eliminated in round two

Everton - Tony Bellew - eliminated in round two

Leicester City - James Maddison

Liverpool - Jose Enrique - eliminated in round two

Manchester City - Phil Foden - eliminated in round two

Manchester United - Jofra Archer - eliminated in round two

Newcastle United - Rolando Aarons - eliminated in round one

Norwich City - Max Aarons

Sheffield United - John Egan

Southampton - Michael Obafemi - eliminated in quarter-finals

Tottenham Hotspur - Ryan Sessegnon - eliminated in round two

Watford - Ande Gray - eliminated in round two

West Ham United - Spencer Owen - eliminated in round one

Wolverhampton Wanderers - Morgan Gibbs-White - eliminated in round two

Image source, Premier League

Miss the first version of this competition two weeks ago?

Well catch up below and find out how Wolves forward Diogo Jota beat Liverpool and England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold to be crowned the inaugural champion of the ePL Invitational.

The knockout tournament sees a host of familiar faces, including Premier League footballers and fans from other fields including cricket, boxing and YouTube take part in a Fifa 20 competition from their homes.

The prize fund for the tournament is being donated to the #PlayersTogether initiative, which was created by Premier League players as a collective way of generating funds for the National Health Service and distributing them where they are needed most.

Image source, Premier League

The BBC will have live coverage from round one onwards of the second ePL Invitational across the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

All the action will also be available to watch for 30-days on-demand after the event too.

Full coverage details:

Friday 8 May - quarter-finals - 15:00-19:00 BST

Saturday 9 May - semi-finals and final - 17:00-19:00 BST