Aston Villa vs Chelsea LIVE: FA Cup result and reaction after Enzo scores a stunning free kick as Blues win
Unai Emery’s side play hosts in this fourth round replay but who will reach the next stage of the competition?
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Chelsea silenced the doubters and relieved some of the mounting pressure on manager Mauricio Pochettino with a confident 3-1 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round.
The west London club had slipped into the bottom half of the table following back to back defeats to Liverpool and Wolves, but a youthful Chelsea showed fight and spirit at Villa Park.
Conor Gallagher opened the scoring with his first goal of the season for Chelsea in the 11th minute, with Nicolas Jackson, who had just returned from the Africa Cup of Nations doubling his side’s lead 10 minutes later.
In the second half Enzo Fernandes all but secured his side’s place in the next round with a stunning free kick straight into the top corner, and even a late consolation goal from Moussa Diaby could not deter Chelsea.
The previous fixture between the teams ended in a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge with Villa creating more chances on goal despite Chelsea seeing more possession. With the support of their home fans the midlands club will be hoping to get over the line and set up a fifth-round clash against Leeds or Plymouth Argyle.
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GOAL! Enzo Fernandes scores a stunning free kick! Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea [54’]
GOAL! 53’ Chelsea have a free kick inside the Villa half. Enzo will take, he goes for goal and he has smashed it into the top corner!
He takes his shirt off in celebration to show his name on the back of the shirt to the cameras.
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
51’ There were discussions at the break over whether Chelsea would sit on a lead or go on the attack for a third and they have not been content to just sit this one out.
They are trying to create at every opportunity and Villa are struggling to find a way back into this match.
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
48’ Chelsea have had an injection of pace, they are chasing down everything, even when the ball goes back to Martinez, although on one occasion Enzo took it slightly too far and the home side were given a free kick, although it was just in front of their own box.
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
47’ The second half starts in the same way as a first and Aston Villa give away a cheap free kick inside their own half for a foul on Chilwell.
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
46’ Chelsea were the last side to stop Aston Villa scoring at home and have won eight of their last nine cup replays. All of those stats work in the visitors’ favour, and the second half is underway.
Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
The players are back out on the field and the second half is about to get underway.
HT: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Will there be any half time changes?
HT: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Roy Keane says Chelsea are “playing like a team tonight” and have been “everything you want in a team” that’s a far cry from where they were at the weekend.
HT: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Here are some photos from the first half at Villa Park:
HT: Aston Villa 0-2 Chelsea
Half time: That was the final action of the half, and it is the struggling Blues who lead 2-0 at the break.
All the talk ahead of the match was dominated by Pochettino’s future, but his Chelsea side have come out of the blocks firing and have a deserved lead at Villa Park.
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