Stamford Bridge dey bubble today as Chelsea show Port Vale pepper for FA Cup quarter-final match. The Blues hammer the League One side 7-0 to book their place for Wembley semi-final. From the first minute, Chelsea show say dem no dey play.
Jorell Hato open scoring for Chelsea just after two minutes of play. The young defender connect half-volley after corner kick commotion for Port Vale box. That early goal set the tone for the whole match.
Joao Pedro add second goal for 25th minute after Pedro Neto win ball from Guyana defender Liam Gordon. Pedro take small time before he slash ball into net. Before halftime, Jordan Gabriel score own goal to make am 3-0 for Chelsea.
Second half, Chelsea continue to dominate. Tosin Adarabioyo head home from Malo Gusto cross for 57th minute. Andrey Santos join the party with header from corner kick for 69th minute.
Estevao, the teenager, score sixth goal for 84th minute after VAR check confirm say he no offside. Alejandro Garnacho wrap things up with penalty kick for stoppage time to make am 7-0.
Port Vale goalkeeper Joe Gauci no make any save for the whole match. Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez just dey watch as his defenders handle everything wey come their way.
This win come as big relief for Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior. Before this match, Chelsea don lose four straight games and dem get knocked out of Europe by Paris Saint-Germain. The FA Cup remain their only chance for trophy this season.
Port Vale, wey dey bottom of League One table, reach quarter-final after dem beat Premier League side Sunderland 1-0 for last round. But today, the magic of FA Cup no work for them. New Zealand striker Ben Waine wey score winner against Sunderland no see chance today.
Chelsea miss some key players like Enzo Fernandez wey get two-match ban after comments about his future. Defender injuries also affect team with Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Levi Colwill and Filip Jorgensen all out.
But today, Chelsea show depth of their squad. Players like Malo Gusto and Pedro Neto keep Port Vale defenders on their toes throughout the match.
For other football news, Strasbourg extend their unbeaten run to 10 matches with 3-1 win over Nice in Ligue 1. Dem play without top striker Joaquín Panichelli wey tear ACL while training with Argentina. Winger Martial Godo and Samir El-Mourabet score for Strasbourg.
Paris Saint-Germain increase their lead to four points in Ligue 1 after Ousmane Dembélé score twice in 3-1 win against Toulouse. That game move forward to give PSG more rest before Champions League quarter-final with Liverpool.
But back to Chelsea, this big win give dem confidence as dem prepare for Premier League match against Manchester City next weekend. The FA Cup semi-final go hold on 25-26 April, and Chelsea Premier League match against Brighton for 26th April go reschedule.
Tosin Adarabioyo talk to BBC Sport after match say: “Very good, great to play some nice football and to get another win and clean sheet at Stamford Bridge. Our aim is to get to the final and win the trophy.”
Port Vale fans go still remember this FA Cup run wey earn dem over £600,000 in prize money. But now dem face reality as dem return to League One relegation battle with match against Rotherham on Tuesday.
Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin talk for BBC Radio 5 Live say Liam Rosenior fit take comfort say nightmare scenario no happen. “They had a cruise,” Nevin talk. “It’s an odd thing to say, but they won 7-0 but were they sparkling brilliant? No. They had to be clinical though.”
Chelsea last win at Stamford Bridge be since 31 January. Today’s victory break that bad run and give hope for remaining part of season. The Blues last win FA Cup eight years ago, and dem dey hungry for another trophy.
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