Chelsea ran out comfy 5-0 winners over League Two Morecambe to achieve the FA Cup Fourth Spherical.
Braces from Tosin Adarabioyo and Joao Felix, in addition to a aim from Christopher Nkunku, who additionally noticed a first-half penalty saved, ensured there was to be no cup upset at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
Eighty-seven locations separate the 2 sides within the English footballing pyramid and, ultimately, the gulf in high quality was evident as Enzo Maresca’s staff noticed off the League Two strugglers in convincing vogue.
The Blues boss made wholesale adjustments, probably the most notable being the return of Reece James to the beginning line-up.
Morecambe’s keeper Harry Burgoyne produced some impressed saves early on however might do little to stop the host’s onslaught within the second half.
For Chelsea, the outcome ended a run of 4 straight video games with out a win.
Progressing to the fourth spherical of the #EmiratesFACup! 🏆#CFC pic.twitter.com/Eqw9mWrJdd
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 11, 2025
How the motion unfolded
Maybe unsurprisingly, it was the Premier League facet who began brightest when Axel Disasi headed the James’ free-kick over the bar inside two minutes.
However the guests additionally made a spirited begin at Stamford Bridge, with the full of life Ben Tollitt forcing an excellent save from Filip Jorgensen within the Blues aim.
Adarabioyo was then inches away from giving the hosts the lead when his header from a nook hit the submit.
It was an eventful first quarter of an hour in London. A handball from Yann Songo’o gave Nkunku the prospect to place Maresca’s facet forward however Burgoyne saved brilliantly to maintain the tie goalless.
Burgoyne, nonetheless, was off his line when the spot kick was taken however, with no VAR in operation till the Fifth Spherical, there was no retake.
It was proving to be a busy afternoon for the Morecombe keeper, who was once more known as into motion shortly earlier than the half-hour mark when he tipped away Felix’s effort.
The League Two facet may very well be very happy with their early efforts however, 5 minutes earlier than the break, they fell behind following a speculative effort from Adarabioyo which took a depraved deflection off Morecambe’s Callum Jones.
Maresca, and certainly the whole dwelling crowd, might breathe a collective sigh of aid because the Blues went into the break with the benefit.
Forward on the break. ✊#CFC | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/salt9FY6oI
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 11, 2025
The hosts made three adjustments at half-time, and it was a type of launched, Marc Cucurella, who made an instantaneous influence.
The Spaniard was instrumental within the build-up as Nkunku slammed the ball dwelling from shut vary to double Chelsea’s lead.
Cucurella then practically made it three 5 minutes later when his snap shot fizzed broad with Maresca’s facet now in complete management.
On 70-minutes, Adarabioyo made the tie secure when one other strike from distance from the defender discovered the highest nook.
Felix then added two extra as Chelsea put a scientific sheen on what was a commanding dwelling efficiency.