Chelsea cruised into the FA Cup semi-finals with a commanding 7-0 demolition of League One’s bottom side, Port Vale, at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Jorrel Hato opened the scoring early, thrashing a loose ball from a corner past Joe Gauci, before João Pedro doubled the advantage after being teed up by Pedro Neto.
Cole Palmer added a third before the break, turning in a rebound after Malo Gusto’s shot was parried into his path.
Tosin Adarabioyo headed in a fourth from Gusto’s cross after the restart, and Andrey Santos nodded home a corner to make it five.
Estêvão, who had twice struck the post, finally got on the scoresheet with a tap-in, before Alejandro Garnacho wrapped up the rout from the penalty spot after being brought down in the box.
The result extended Chelsea’s unbeaten run in FA Cup ties against lower-league opposition to 38 matches since the 2015/16 season, and their seventh consecutive quarter-final victory since losing to Everton in 2016.
Port Vale had earned their place in the last eight by knocking out Premier League side Sunderland — their first FA Cup quarter-final appearance since the 1953/54 season — but were outclassed on the day.
Chelsea will now face a Wembley semi-final, while Port Vale return to the fight against relegation from League One, having won just seven of their 38 league games this season.
