Chelsea secured their spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a commanding 5-0 victory over League Two side Morecambe at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Doubles from Tosin Adarabioyo and João Félix, combined with a clinical strike from Christopher Nkunku, underscored the Blues’ dominance in a one-sided affair.
Chelsea’s Early Pressure and Missed Opportunity
From the outset, Chelsea dictated the tempo.
Adarabioyo came close to opening the scoring in the 14th minute, heading Pedro Neto’s cross against the bar. Just three minutes later, the Blues squandered another golden opportunity when Nkunku’s penalty, awarded for a Yann Songo’o handball, was saved by Morecambe goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne.
Read Also: Transfer Gossip Today: Sunderland sign Enzo Le From AS Roma Fee on loan, £20M Obligation If Promoted
Adarabioyo Breaks the Deadlock
The breakthrough finally came as Adarabioyo’s deflected strike from the edge of the box nestled into the bottom corner, giving Chelsea a deserved lead.
The Blues maintained control for the remainder of the half, with their defensive solidity limiting Morecambe’s chances.
Second-Half Goal Fest
Head coach Enzo Maresca made one halftime change, introducing Marc Cucurella for Romeo Lavia.
Chelsea wasted no time asserting their dominance after the break. Nkunku redeemed himself for his earlier penalty miss with a left-footed finish into the bottom right corner just five minutes into the second half.
Adarabioyo doubled his tally with a stunning strike into the top corner after receiving a precise pass from Tyrique George, one of Maresca’s bold inclusions in the starting XI.
The floodgates opened as João Félix added a quick-fire brace. His first came from a well-executed counter-attack, finishing smartly into the bottom corner.
Moments later, the Portuguese forward curled a sublime effort beyond Burgoyne, sealing a comprehensive victory for the home side.
Maresca’s Rotations Pay Off
Maresca made several notable changes to his lineup, with Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández, and Nicolas Jackson starting on the bench.
Reece James and Romeo Lavia made their first starts since recovering from injuries, while 18-year-old Tyrique George impressed with a confident display.
Chelsea will discover their fourth-round opponents on Sunday when the draw takes place at 5 p.m. GMT (12 p.m. ET). With momentum firmly on their side, the Blues will hope to build on this dominant performance as they aim for silverware this season.
This emphatic win not only showcased Chelsea’s strength in depth but also reaffirmed their status as serious contenders in the FA Cup.
