Match Reaction : Chelsea v. Morecambe, FA Cup.

Chelsea secured a commanding 5-0 victory over League Two side Morecambe in the FA Cup third round at Stamford Bridge on January 11, 2025. 

The match started out with the hosts struggling to break down the visiting Shrimps, who at the time of writing are 87 places below them in the English football pyramid. As expected, Chelsea dominated early proceedings, but they missed an early opportunity when Christopher Nkunku’s 17th-minute penalty was saved by Morecambe goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne. 

The breakthrough finally came in the 39th minute when defender Tosin Adarabioyo’s long-range effort deflected into the net, giving Chelsea a 1-0 lead at halftime. The reaction from the home bench was quite telling as it appeared to be one of relief as opposed to joy.

Early in the second half, Nkunku redeemed his earlier miss by scoring in the 50th minute, doubling Chelsea’s advantage. The blues forward reacted quickly following a stinging shot from Renato Veiga which was parried into his path by Burgoyne.

Adarabioyo who had been urged by the home support to “shoot” obliged, showcasing his striking ability again in the 70th minute with a powerful shot from outside the box, making it 3-0. 

João Félix then added a quick-fire brace, scoring in the 75th and 77th minutes. Neither Tosin or Felix would end up getting the hattrick though, as the visitors increasingly pushed a for consolation.

This victory propels Chelsea into the fourth round of the FA Cup, marking their first win in five games across all competitions as they continue their pursuit of silverware this season.