Chelsea 4-0 Preston: Goals galore as Blues’ smash all four goals in second half to see off stern test presented by Preston
Chelsea has advanced to the next stages of FA Cup after running riot against Championship side Preston North End, as Mauricio Pochettino’s side smashed all four goals in the second half to ward off the sturdy defense of their opponents. Armando Broja started off scoring which was rounded off by a superb finish from the Argentine World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez.
A sturdy game at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea started off 2024 with a bang as they defeated Championship side Preston to proceed to the next stages of FA Cup, as 7th January would be marked as a historic day for English football sector as eight matches were played to the fore. But, Mauricio Pochettino’s side would be the happiest among Premier League sides as they surpassed a 14th ranked team of the Championship, after initially falling for the traps set by their counterparts. They took almost an hour to break the deadlock, as Pochettino wringed in few changes to the side, as youngster Alfie Gilchrist started off at the right-back position, who is considered to be an embodiment of Blues’ legend John Terry owing to his exuberance and class across the defensive sector. Armando Broja spearheaded the attack, followed by the famous trident of Sterling, Palmer and Mudryk, with midfield duties vested upon Caicedo and Enzo. For Preston, Montenegrin footballer Osmajic started the attack, followed by Keane and Browne.
Broja draws first blood
After a mundane first half of 0-0, Chelsea decided to go all guns blazing in the second half. Although it took 15 more minutes for the Blues to score the opening goal, but when it did, the floodgates opened as they ran riot against their lowly opponents.
For the first goal, it was Malo Gusto whose swift cross was met by the Albanian striker Broja, who rose above the top of his opponents to score the first goal from a deft header past Woodman into the far corner, as Chelsea led the score 1-0 within 59 minutes.
Brazilian veteran Thiago Silva made himself responsible for the second goal, as he headed the ball at the near post, after a Cole Palmer corner doubled up the cushion for the home side.
Raheem Sterling adds to the score line with a sublime free-kick
Raheem Sterling, seasoned star for the Blues’, decided to join the party by scoring a sublime free-kick three minutes later, on the 69th minute. Preston custodian Woodman was left with no answers to the perfect set-piece from the former Manchester City and Liverpool stalwart, as Sterling curled in a perfect shot to help the hosts to an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Enzo Fernandez etched his name on the score sheet once again as he tapped back a sweet goal to seal the deal for the Blues’ , thus surpassing the stern test presented by Preston. For Chelsea, youngster Michael Golding made his debut as the homegrown 17-year old made an impressive start to his Chelsea senior career, thus earning high praise from the home supporters.
