Chelsea stormed into the FA Cup Fourth Round with a dazzling 5-0 victory over Cardiff at the Drogba Arena, led by a scintillating hat-trick from Brazilian midfielder Pele. The result underscored both the dominance of Dimario’s side and the growing influence of Chelsea’s Brazilian contingent.
It took just ten minutes for the breakthrough to arrive, with Gérson—making only his second start since returning from loan—scoring his first Chelsea goal in style. The Brazilian winger curled a superb strike from outside the area into the top-left corner, a moment of pure class that set the tone for the afternoon.
From there, it became the Pele show. The 22-year-old midfielder struck his first with a thunderous effort after capitalising on a defensive slip by Jean Jezpeh, before doubling his tally shortly after the restart when Alan Black’s misplaced clearance fell kindly for him to rifle home.
Pele completed his hat-trick with style, driving low across the keeper from the edge of the area on 73 minutes to seal his best performance yet in a Chelsea shirt. His Player of the Match rating of 9.2 reflected a commanding display that was at once elegant and ruthless.
Defender Chancel Beya added gloss to the scoreline with a thunderous 25-yard free-kick that rocketed into the top corner, drawing roars from the Drogba Arena crowd. It was a strike worthy of any highlight reel, capping a near-perfect team performance.
The afternoon, though, belonged to the Brazilians. Gérson’s first goal for the club, Pele’s hat-trick, and Junior’s tireless wing play highlighted the flair and energy the South American core is bringing to this Chelsea side.
Director of Football Pep Guardiola was full of praise post-match, insisting Pele could “score goals at any level, in any league, in any country.” Fans, too, took to social media to revel in the samba-inspired victory, with one noting, “This is the Chelsea of the future—Brazilian magic mixed with Dimario’s control.”
The win extends Chelsea’s unbeaten run and keeps hopes of another domestic trophy alive. With their Brazilian stars beginning to shine together, the FA Cup could be the perfect stage for them to etch their names into Chelsea folklore.