STOKE-ON-TRENT — Chelsea continued their relentless pursuit of domestic silverware with a commanding 3–0 victory over Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium, securing their place in the FA Cup semi-finals. A clinical brace from Zain Whatmough and a composed finish from Nahuel Pelayes sealed the result in a game that saw the hosts reduced to ten men.
On a bitterly cold afternoon, it took just four minutes for Chelsea to assert their dominance. Whatmough opened the scoring with a low, driven finish into the bottom left corner after neat interplay on the edge of the area. He doubled his tally before the hour mark, capping off a flowing team move with another well-placed strike.
Stoke’s resistance unravelled further in the 63rd minute when James Bird was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge, leaving his side with an uphill battle. Chelsea made their numerical advantage count, with Pelayes putting the game beyond doubt in the 74th minute after being played through on goal.
The Blues were dominant throughout, controlling possession and limiting Stoke to just one effort across the 90 minutes. The midfield trio of Chafar, Hilgers, and Beyo orchestrated the tempo, while Whatmough’s movement and directness repeatedly stretched the home side’s backline.
Managerial staff and fans alike will be encouraged not only by the performance but by the continued sharpness of the squad across all competitions. With their place in the final four confirmed, Chelsea remain firmly on course for a potential domestic double — or even more.
They now turn their attention back to the Premier League, while eagerly awaiting their next opponent in the cup. One thing is certain — few will fancy facing this Chelsea side in their current form.