Chelsea cruised to a comfortable 5-0 win over League Two Morecambe to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Sides from Tosin Adarabioyo and Joao Felix, as well as a goal from Christopher Nkunku, who also saw a first-half penalty saved, ensured there would be no cup upset at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
Eighty-seven places separate the two sides in the English football pyramid and, in the end, the gulf in quality was evident as Enzo Maresca’s side faced the League Two strugglers in convincing fashion.
The Blues boss made big changes, most notably the return of Rhys James to the starting line-up.
Morecambe goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne made some inspired saves early on but could do little to prevent the home side’s second-half onslaught.
For Chelsea, the result ended a run of four consecutive games without a win.
Moving on to his fourth round #EmiratesFACup! 🏆#CFC pic.twitter.com/Eqw9mWrJdd
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 11, 2025
How the action unfolded
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was the Premier League side who started the stronger when Axel Dassey headed James’ free-kick over the bar inside two minutes.
But the visitors also made a lively start at Stamford Bridge, with the lively Ben Tolitt making a fine save from Philip Jorgensen in the Blues’ goal.
Adarabioyo then came inches away from giving the hosts the lead when his header from a corner hit the post.
It was an eventful first quarter of an hour in London. A Yann Songo’o handball gave Nkunku a chance to put Maresca’s side in front, but Burgoyne saved brilliantly to keep the tie goalless.
Burgoyne, however, was offside when the spot was taken but, with no VAR in operation until the fifth round, there was no replay.
It proved to be a busy afternoon for the Morecombe keeper, who was again called into action just before the half-hour mark when he saved Felix’s effort.
The League Two side could have been very pleased with their early efforts but, five minutes before the break, they fell behind after Adarabioyo’s speculative effort took a poor deflection off Morecambe’s Callum Jones.
Maresca, and indeed the entire home crowd, were able to breathe a collective sigh of relief as the Blues went into the break with the advantage.
Before 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 those brought in, Marc Cucurella, who made an immediate impact.
The Spaniard was instrumental in the rally as Nkunku tapped home the ball from close range to double Chelsea’s lead.
Cucurella then almost made it three five minutes later when his shot went wide with Maresca’s side now in complete control.
On 70 minutes, Adarabioyo made the tie safe when another strike from distance by the defender found the top corner.
Felix then added two more as Chelsea added a clinical flare to a commanding home performance.
