Chelsea have recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round clash at Stamford Bridge.
Willian opened the scoring with a first-half penalty and after Callum Hudson-Odoi added a second, Willian wrapped up the win with a well-taken third in the closing stages.
The result caps off an excellent 72 hours for Chelsea after they reached the EFL Cup final in midweek, while Wednesday now begin a new era with Steve Bruce due to take over the reins in the dugout next week.
Wednesday have struggled goals over the past month, but the Owls created an opportunity within two minutes of kickoff with Adam Reach sending a weak effort towards Willy Caballero after advancing into the penalty area.
However, Chelsea soon began to dominate possession, although it took until the 18th minute for Gonzalo Higuain to make any impact with the debutant seeing a shot from 10 yards deflected well wide of the post.
The referee awarded Wednesday a penalty shortly before the midway point of the first half, but VAR overturned the decision after it was deemed that Ethan Ampadu had played the ball when challenging Joey Pelupessy.
Chelsea were given a spot kick of their own soon afterwards when Sam Hutchinson – formerly of the Blues – made contact with Cesar Azpilicueta’s ankle, and it left to Willian make no mistake from 12 yards out.
The remainder of the opening period was uneventful, with Wednesday’s strategy of sitting on their own 18-yard line gifting Chelsea time and space on the ball.
Chelsea continued to control proceedings after the restart, although the visitors did hit the post when Reach’s cross from the right struck the outside of the woodwork.
The near-miss reminded Chelsea that they could not afford to get complacent and after 10 minutes of sustained pressure, Hudson-Odoi netted what could ultimately prove to be a farewell goal amid persistent interest from Bayern Munich.
Andreas Christensen picked out the winger with a floated pass and after cutting inside the defender, the 18-year-old forced the ball inside the near corner from 12 yards out.
Higuain had provided little threat in the final third before being substituted by Olivier Giroud, but the Juventus loanee did send a glancing header wide of the far post after meeting Ampadu’s cross.
Giroud needed just two minutes to make an impact with the substitute being involved in a one-two with Willian, leaving the latter to send a first-time shot into the far corner from 16 yards.
The Frenchman sent an overhead kick wide of the post before Willian wasted a chance of a hat-trick by firing wide from the edge of the area, but Maurizio Sarri will be delighted that his side were able to reach the last 16 without coming close to reaching top gear.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
