By Chelsea comfortably advanced to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a commanding 5-0 victory over League Two side Barrow at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.
Christopher Nkunku was the star of the show, netting an impressive hat-trick for the Premier League giants. Pedro Neto also found the scoresheet, while an own goal from Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman further extended Chelsea’s lead.
Despite making 11 changes to their starting lineup, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca fielded a strong side, opting to keep academy players on the bench. The Blues’ quality shone through from the outset, with Nkunku opening the scoring after just eight minutes. The French forward latched onto a brilliantly scooped pass from Joao Felix, volleying home with precision.
Nkunku doubled Chelsea’s lead seven minutes later, this time finishing off a low cross from Malo Gusto with a delightful flick. The rout continued when Felix’s free-kick struck the post and deflected in off the unfortunate Farman for an own goal shortly before the half-hour mark.
The second half began as the first ended, with Chelsea in complete control. Neto tapped home two minutes after the restart following a swift counter-attack and assist from Mykhailo Mudryk. Nkunku completed his hat-trick with 15 minutes remaining, capitalizing on a mistake by Farman to slot into an empty net.
Barrow, to their credit, showed moments of resilience, with substitute Katia Kouyate making a positive impact. However, the League Two side struggled to create clear-cut chances against Chelsea’s resolute defense.
The result showcased Chelsea’s strength in depth and served as a confidence boost for Maresca’s squad as they continue their pursuit of silverware this season. For Barrow, the heavy defeat marks the end of their Carabao Cup journey, but the experience of facing top-tier opposition at Stamford Bridge will undoubtedly be valuable for the club’s development.
Chelsea now await the fourth-round draw, as they look to progress further in a competition they last won in 2015.
