Chelsea ran out comfortable 5-0 winners against League Two Morecambe to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Doubles from Tosin Adarabioyo and Joao Felix, plus a goal from Christopher Nkunku, which also saw a penalty saved in the first half, ensured there would be no cup surprises at Stamford Bridge on Saturday after -noon.
Eighty-seven places separate the two teams in the English football pyramid and, in the end, the gap in terms of quality was evident as Enzo Maresca’s side beat the League Two strugglers in convincing fashion.
The Blues boss has made some big changes, the most notable being the return of Reece James to the starting XI.
Morecambe goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne made some inspired saves early on but could do little to prevent the host’s second-half onslaught.
For Chelsea, this result ends a streak of four consecutive games without a win.
Advancing towards the fourth round of #EmiratesFACup! 🏆#CFC pic.twitter.com/Eqw9mWrJdd
– Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 11, 2025
How the action took place
Unsurprisingly, it was the Premier League side who started better when Axel Disasi headed James’ free-kick over the bar inside two minutes.
But the visitors also got off to a good start at Stamford Bridge, with the lively Ben Tollitt forcing a fine save from Filip Jorgensen in the Blues goal.
Adarabioyo was then inches away from giving the hosts the lead when his header from a corner hit the post.
It was a hectic first quarter of an hour in London. A handball from Yann Songo’o gave Nkunku the opportunity to give Maresca’s men the lead, but Burgoyne saved brilliantly to keep the match goalless.
Burgoyne, however, was off his line when the penalty was taken but, with no VAR in operation until the fifth round, there was no replay.
It proved a busy afternoon for the Morecombe goalkeeper, who was again called into action shortly before the half-hour mark when he deflected Felix’s effort.
The League Two side might have been very pleased with their early efforts but, five minutes before the break, they fell behind following a speculative effort from Adarabioyo which deflected Morecambe’s Callum Jones.
Maresca, and the entire home crowd, were able to breathe a collective sigh of relief as the Blues went into the break with the advantage.
Ahead at the break. ✊#CFC | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/salt9FY6oI
– Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 11, 2025
The hosts made three changes at half-time, and it was one of the introduced players, Marc Cucurella, who made an immediate impact.
The Spaniard was instrumental in the build-up as Nkunku smashed the ball home from close range to double Chelsea’s lead.
Cucurella almost scored the third goal five minutes later when his snap shot went wide, with Maresca’s men now in complete control.
In the 70th minute, Adarabioyo secured the tie when another long-range strike from the defender found the top corner.
Felix then added two more as Chelsea gave a clinical shine to what was an impressive home performance.
