Jon Brady made four changes to his side from last weekend’s league game as his side travelled to East London to take on the World Champions, Chelsea, in the Quarter-Final of the Emirates FA Cup.
Brady’s boys were backed by 6000 travelling fans who were in fine voice prior to kick off as the Wonder Of You was proudly belted out from the Shed End of Stamford Bridge,
It was a tough start for the Valiants, who went a goal behind inside a minute. A corner from the right was cleared as far as Jorell Hato, who squeezed an effort into the back of the net, evading the Vale defenders on the line.
In the 10th minute, the Valiants came close to levelling as Rhys Walters’ low cross almost found Ben Waine, but it was just out of reach of the Vale forward, who was at full stretch at the back post.
Chelsea’s lead was doubled in the 25th minute when Pedro Neto did well to beat Liam Gordon to the ball before crossing from the left side and finding Joao Pedro who turned quickly before finding the bottom corner from six yards out.
Three minutes before the break, a third goal was added. Joao Pedro broke forward and found Pedro Neto to his right, who forced a good save from Joe Gauci with a first-time effort. However, the rebound fell to Cole Palmer, who slid home from close range to give his side a comfortable lead at the break.
Two minutes into the second half, Liam Gordon did well to win a free-kick in the Vale half. Funso Ojo’s driven set piece found Connor Hall at the back post, who headed it back across goal, but it was poked away from Cameron Humphreys, who was about to pull the trigger.
The hosts should have added a fourth in the 50th minute when Andrey Santos picked up the ball in midfield before sliding in Estevao who saw his first-time effort curl wide of the upright. Moments later, Cole Palmer had the ball on the edge of the area before he nonchalantly poked an effort towards the bottom corner, but Gauci was equal to it and made a comfortable save down low.
Chelsea made it four just before the hour mark. Good play down the right side allowed Joao Pedro time to cross towards the back post where Tosin powered a header into the bottom corner.
Estevao came close to adding a fifth as he was played in-behind down the right side. He cut inside onto his left foot before dragging an effort towards the near corner, but it crashed off the upright before the danger was cleared.
With twenty minutes to play, Chelsea made it five as a corner from the right side was met by Andrey Santos, who was unmarked at the back post and headed home into the back of the net.
With ten minutes to play, the hosts added a sixth as Garnacho went through on goal and crashed an effort off the post, the rebound fell kindly to Estevao, who rolled into the empty net, and after a lengthy VAR delay, the goal was eventually awarded after the goalscorer was adjudged to be onside.
In the 90th minute, the hosts were awarded a penalty when Tyler Magloire tripped Garnacho in the area as he looked to cut inside onto his right foot. The Argentinian winger dusted himself off and dispatched the penalty to cap off a dominant display from the World Champions.
Chelsea: Robert Sanchez, Tosin Adarabioyo, Pedro Neto (Dario Essugo 60’), Cole Palmer © (Liam Delap 60’), Andrey Santos, Joao Pedro (Alejandro Garnacho 60’), Jorrel Hato, Malo Gusto (Josh Acheampong 85’), Wesley Fofana, Estevao, Roman Lavia (Ryan Kavuma- McQueen 77’).
Subs not used: Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Marc Cucurella, Mamadou Sarr, Moises Caicedo.
Port Vale: Joe Gauci, Connor Hall, Jordan Gabriel, Ben Garrity © (Ethon Archer 73), Rhys Walters, Funso Ojo, Liam Gordon (Eli Campbell 65’), Ben Waine (George Hall 65’), Martin Sherif (Andre Gray 65’), Kyle John (Tyler Magloire 83’), Cameron Humphreys.
Subs not used: Ben Amos, Jayden Stockley, Ryan Croasdale, Jordan Shipley.