Manchester City thrash Chelsea to reach FA Cup fourth round
January 9,2023
Manchester City make light work of Chelsea in their FA Cup third round tie on Sunday, smashing Graham Potter‘s side 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
The two sides met just three days prior in the Premier League where Pep Guardiola‘s men only just managed to squeeze out an away win but, this time, it was far more straight forward, as a brace from Riyad Mahrez, and goals from Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden.
The first big chance of the game fell to Cole Palmer, who was played through on goal with a ball over the top. But rather selfishly, the youngster opted to shoot with Alvarez all alone alongside him, and missed the target.
On 23 minutes though, City were ahead. Mahrez won a freekick from around 30 yards and then picked himself up to take it, curling the ball into the top corner to perfection beyond the reach of Kepa.
Five minutes later, Chelsea were in trouble again. Kai Havertz handled the ball in a bid to block Rodri‘s header and VAR urged the referee to have a closer look. A penalty was rightly given and Alvarez stepped up to take the penalty and, just about, managed to squeeze it past Kepa.
Before the break, it was 3-0. In a brilliant team move by City, Mahrez fed Kyle Walker down the left who then cut it back for Foden and the youngster opened his body up to tuck it away with his left foot
The second half was a far slower encounter, given that the damage had already been done. Only Mason Mount‘s low shot from outside the box on 55 minutes had City slightly worried
But ultimately it was City who would grab the next goal and, again, from the penalty spot. Kalidou Koulibaly clumsily brought down Foden and Mahrez lashed home the resulting kick.
Arsenal or Oxford will now be next for Manchester City in the FA Cup fourth round.
