Chelsea crush Port Vale 7-0 to storm into FA Cup semi-finals

KATHMANDU: Chelsea FC delivered a ruthless performance to thrash Port Vale 7-0 and book their place in the FA Cup semi-finals.

The hosts made a dream start at Stamford Bridge, taking the lead just 64 seconds into the match through Jorrel Hato, who found the net amid a crowded box.

Chelsea doubled their advantage in the 25th minute when João Pedro calmly finished, putting the visitors under early pressure.

Before halftime, the scoreline became 3-0 after a sequence involving Malo Gusto and João Pedro led to a rebound from Cole Palmer deflecting into the net off Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel for an own goal.

Chelsea maintained complete control after the break, extending their lead to 5-0 before the 70th minute. Headers from Tosin Adarabioyo and André Santos exposed Port Vale’s defensive struggles against crosses.

Estevão Willian, who had earlier struck the post twice, finally got on the scoresheet in the 82nd minute following a rebound from Alejandro Garnacho’s effort. The Argentine later won a stoppage-time penalty, which Estevão converted to complete the rout.

With this emphatic victory, Chelsea became the first team to score seven goals in an FA Cup quarter-final since Liverpool FC defeated Birmingham City FC 7-0 in the 2005–06 season.