Christopher Nkunku scored a hat-trick to help Chelsea to a resounding 5-0 victory over Barrow in the Carabao Cup third round.
The Blues dominated from start to finish at Stamford Bridge, with Pedro Neto’s finish and Paul Farman’s own goal completing a high-scoring victory for Enzo Maresca’s men.
Nkunku put the Blues in control with two smart finishes inside 15 minutes, the first tucked home after Joao Felix’s lofted pass and the second superbly guided in with his backheel.
Felix’s free-kick deflected in off goalkeeper Paul Farman to make it 3-0 before Pedro Neto netted his first Chelsea goal just three minutes after the break.
Chelsea’s dominance continued as Nkunku completed his hat-trick in the 75th minute as he stole the ball off Farman to tap into an empty net.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#CFC | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/HbVVAxhMSv
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 24, 2024
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Villa edge past stubborn Wycombe
Emiliano Buendia scored on his first Aston Villa start for almost 16 months in a 2-1 victory at Wycombe.
The League One side stopped Villa from playing at their fluid best at Adams Park, going in goalless at half-time and restricting them to few chances.
Put the Champions League outfit finally went ahead in the 55th minute when Buendia guided a looping header in after Kadan Young’s cross from the byline deflected off a defender.
Wycombe continued to make it uncomfortable for the Villans, with a fine save from debutant goalkeeper Joe Gauchi preventing Garath McCleary from heading home an equaliser with 10 minutes to play.
But the visitors were finally able to start planning for the fourth round when Jhon Duran was brought down inside the box, allowing the Colombian to fire home from the penalty spot to seal the victory.
Wycombe fans finally got the chance to celebrate a deserved goal when Richard Kone slammed past Gauchi in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Through to the next round 👊 pic.twitter.com/9Us90YVP2J
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 24, 2024
Foxes taken to penalties
Leicester needed penalties to beat League Two high-flyers Walsall after a 0-0 draw in normal time.
The Foxes were more than matched for much of the encounter at the Bescot Stadium, with many of the best chances going the way of the Saddlers.
Walsall held on for spot-kicks but goalkeeper Danny Ward made himself the hero with three saved penalties, with Leicester converting their first three to seal progression.
