Chelsea progressed to the semi-finals of 2025-26 FA Cup with a 7-0 victory against Port Vale at Stamford Bridge.
Jorrel Hato fired Liam Rosenoir’s Blues in front after 64 seconds before Joao Pedro’s strike and Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel’s own-goal – initially awarded to Chelsea’s Cole Palmer – put the hosts in firm control at half time.
Second-half headers from Tosin Adarabioyo and Andrey Santos plus Estevao’s rebound finish and Alejandro Garnacho’s penalty sealed Chelsea’s progression to the semi-finals as League One’s Port Vale saw their cup run ended.
Following four consecutive defeats before the international break and failure to score in their last three matches, Chelsea quickly ended that latter stat with a late first-minute corner, which fell for Hato to smash in from close range just 64 seconds into the match to put the hosts in front.
Port Vale quickly regrouped and frustrated Chelsea in their marking amidst some wasted free-kicks of their own, until Pedro Neto escaped Liam Gordon’s marking to deliver a cutback pass into the box which fell for Pedro to twist away from Kyle John and tuck into the far-left corner to double the Blues’ lead.
Any hopes of a comeback from Jon Brady’s Valiants were effectively extinguished in the 43rd minute as Gusto played an one-two move with Pedro, before the French fullback’s low cross was swept into the left corner by Palmer to put the hosts in comfortable control at half time.
Palmer however was soon discredited for Chelsea’s third goal which was instead awarded as an own-goal by Lawrence-Gabriel.
Port Vale nevertheless attempted to force at least a consolatory goal early in the second half but Cameron Humphreys’ shot was blocked.
Chelsea soon afterwards assumed full control as Palmer forced a save from Joe Gauci in the 51st minute to stop his curled shot rolling into the bottom-left corner.
Neto and Gusto both continued to prove a handful on Chelsea’s right flank as the Portuguese winger slipped the French full-back through in the 57th minute, which allowed Gusto to whip in a cross which Adarabioyo nodded in to add their fourth goal.
Estevao then wasted two chances to further extend Chelsea’s lead but eventually provided the assist for their fifth goal in the 69th minute, as his corner-kick was nodded in by Santos despite a foul by Adarabioyo on Gauci yet Video-Assistant Referee (VAR) bizarrely allowed the goal and ruled no foul.
Substitute, Garnacho nearly extended Chelsea’s lead in the 82nd minute but struck the right post, which rebounded for Estevao to smash into the left corner but was disallowed then overturned by VAR.
Chelsea eventually saw out their comfortable victory to secure another semi-final appearance of this season – having reached that stage in the Carabao Cup, which was sealed by Alejandro Garnacho’s 92nd-minute penalty after he was brought down by Tyler Magloire.
What’s Next?
Chelsea will face a tricky Premier League test at home to Man City on Sunday 12 April at 4:30pm BST.
Port Vale meanwhile look to keep starving off relegation to League Two on Tuesday 7 April as they host Rotherham at Vale Park in a 7:45pm kick-off.
Teams
Chelsea: Robert Sanchez, Malo Gusto (Acheampong 85′), Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Jorell Hato, Romeo Lavia (Kavuma-McQueen 79′), Andrey Santos, Estevao, Cole Palmer (Essugo 62′), Pedro Neto (Garnacho 61′), Joao Pedro (Delap 61′)
Substitutes: Josh Acheampong, Moises Caicedo, Dario Essugo, Marc Cucurella, Liam Delap, Alejandro Garnacho, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, Mamadou Sarr, Teddy Sharman-Lowe
Port Vale: Joe Gauci, Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel, Kyle John (Magloire 85′), Cameron Humphreys, Connor Hall, Liam Gordon (Campbell 65′), Rhys Walters, Funso Ojo, Ben Garrity (Archer 74′), Ben Waine (Hall 65′), Martin Sherif (Gray 65′)
Substitutes: Ben Amos, Ethon Archer, Ryan Croasdale, Andre Gray, George Hall, Tyler Magloire, Jordan Shipley, Jayden Stockley, Eli Campbell
Referee – Farai Hallam
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