Chelsea advanced into the Carabao Cup fourth round with a commanding 4-0 victory over Doncaster at the Eco-Power Stadium. The contest was effectively settled before the interval, as the Premier League side demonstrated their superiority with three first-half goals.
Júnior struck twice in the opening 40 minutes (24, 40), while Johnny Jenkins added another after 35 minutes to put Chelsea firmly in control. Manuel Ordóñez, despite an early booking, impressed in midfield, dictating play alongside Joseph Haigh who was heavily involved before being dismissed with a second yellow card in the 32nd minute.
The second half was one of game management for Chelsea, restricting Doncaster to half-chances and speculative efforts. The hosts’ frustration showed as Ron Jones and Jimmy Collins both picked up bookings, while their night worsened with an injury to John Paul Bammant. Substitute Marcos Delfino capped off the performance with a well-taken fourth goal late on.
Chelsea played nearly an hour with ten men after Haigh’s dismissal but still controlled proceedings. Doncaster’s attacking threat was limited, producing just 0.59 expected goals compared to Chelsea’s 1.75, with goalkeeper Liam Murray often exposed by lapses in the defensive line.
Dimario will be encouraged by the depth of his squad, with Zouhir Reibai, Facundo Quiroga and Diego Vargas all delivering solid contributions. For Doncaster, the heavy defeat is a sharp reminder of the gulf to Premier League opposition as they return focus to their league campaign.