Neto scores hat-trick as Chelsea cruise through to FA Cup fifth round

Hull 0

Chelsea 4

Neto (40′, 51′, 71′)
Estevao (59′)

Pedro Neto grabbed a fine hat-trick as Chelsea cruised into the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The Blues controlled the first half against Championship opponents Hull City, but wasted numerous chances before Neto curled home the opener with pace and precision five minutes before the break.

Five minutes into the second half the Tigers trailed 2-0 when Neto scored direct from a corner, the ball somehow finding its way through a crowded penalty box and then down through the legs of keeper Dillon Phillips and into the net.

And Chelsea never looked like surrendering a 2-0 lead like they did against Leeds United in midweek, with Delap laying on further goals for Estavao and Neto to ensure their poor first-half finishing did not matter.

A wasteful first period saw Neto smash an effort over after a sweet turn, Alejandro Garnacho seeing a cross-shot well blocked having shown great touch and pace to latch on to a Moises Caceido pass and Estevao miss a glorious chance, shooting over after rounding the keeper following Mamadou Sarr’s exquisite through-ball.

Delap was then guilty of an extraordinary miss. The striker charged down a Phillips clearance on to the underside of the bar only to dither hopelessly in front of goal and give the keeper time to recover when the ball bounced back out to him.

But goals either side of the interval meant the profligacy did not matter, Pedro’s crisp 20-yard strike finally rewarding Chelsea’s first-half dominance following some fine interplay on the edge of the box involving Caicedo and Delap, and the Portuguese then scoring with a strange second.

Delap completed a hat-trick of assists, one of which teed up Neto’s third, and youngsters Jesse Derry and Shim Mheuke both came on in the latter stages but although Chelsea were unable to add to their goal tally they did survive several scares to keep a clean sheet.

Chelsea: Sanchez; James (Acheampong, 60) Hato, Sarr, Fofana (Adarabioyo, 77), Caicedo (Fernandez, 61), Santos, Estevao (Derry 77), Neto; Delap, (Mheuka, 88).

Subs not used: Sharman-Lowe, Gusto, Badiashile, Joao.