09/05 - 20:00
09/05 - 20:00
09/05 - 20:00
Chelsea cruised into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a convincing 4-0 win at home to Preston North End on Saturday.
The hosts created their first scoring opportunity when Alfie Gilchrist surged into Preston's penalty area, delivering a cutback for Raheem Sterling. However, Sterling's close-range shot, deflected by the goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, failed to find the net.
Sterling continued to pose a threat, forcing Woodman into a challenging save after Enzo Fernandez regained possession, setting up the winger for a strike toward the top corner, only to be thwarted by a superb stop.
In the subsequent moments, Cole Palmer missed a golden opportunity to take the lead. Despite Fernandez's clever ball over the top, Palmer's attempted lob over Woodman went awry, bouncing wide.
Preston's first chance happened when Brad Potts won a header over Fernandez, setting up Milutin Osmajic, but his strike didn't truly test Djordje Petrovic.
With 58 minutes elapsed, Chelsea took the lead as Mykhailo Mudryk's ball recovery allowed Malo Gusto to deliver a cross, glanced in by Armando Broja.
Shortly after, Chelsea came close to doubling their lead. Mudryk's excellent work on the left flank created space for a cross to Broja, whose header narrowly missed the target.
However, the Blues quickly added another goal, with Thiago Silva, coming off the bench, nodding in a corner from Palmer.
The match was decisively settled by the 69th minute. Sterling scored his second free-kick goal of the season, firing into the top corner from 20 yards.
Although Chelsea had a fourth goal disallowed initially for offside, an extensive VAR check deemed Fernandez onside, and the goal was awarded.
In added time, Mauricio Pochettino's men missed an opportunity for a fifth goal as Woodman denied Noni Madueke, and the Blues had to settle for a 4-0 victory.
PICK THAT OUT 😱@sterling7 with a stunner for @ChelseaFC 😮💨#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/vbwQTOYiJm
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 6, 2024
4-0 | ||
Armando Broja 58' Thiago Silva 66' Raheem Sterling 69' Enzo Fernández 85' |
