Chelsea Crush Port Vale 7-0 to Reach FA Cup Semifinals

Chelsea advanced to the FA Cup semifinals on April 4, 2026, following a 7-0 victory over Port Vale at Stamford Bridge. The result ended a streak of four consecutive defeats for the London side and marked their first home win since January 31, 2026.

Match Timeline and Goal Scorers

The Blues established control early in the match. Jorrel Hato opened the scoring within the first two minutes by striking a loose ball from a corner past goalkeeper Joe Gauci.

João Pedro increased the lead to 2-0 after receiving a setup from Pedro Neto. Before the half-time whistle, Cole Palmer scored the third goal by turning in a rebound following a parried shot from Malo Gusto.

The second half saw further goals from several different players. Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel scored an own goal just before the break, while Tosin Adarabioyo headed in a fourth goal from a cross provided by Gusto after the restart.

Andrey Santos added a fifth goal by nodding home a corner. Estêvão, who had previously hit the post twice during the match, scored with a tap-in to make it 6-0.

The rout was completed in stoppage time when Alejandro Garnacho won a penalty after being brought down in the box and converted the spot-kick himself.

Team Context and Management

The victory was achieved under manager Liam Rosenior, as the team sought to keep their bid for silverware alive. The win extended Chelsea’s unbeaten run against lower-league opposition.

Port Vale, described as the bottom side of League One, saw their run in the competition end with the defeat.

Internal Club Matters

Despite the on-field success, the club has faced external scrutiny regarding disciplinary consistency. Steve Nicol and Craig Burley questioned the decision to bench Enzo Fernandez for two games while Marc Cucurella remained unpunished for comments made during interviews.

Key Match Statistics and Facts

• Final Score: Chelsea 7-0 Port Vale
• Venue: Stamford Bridge
• Date: April 4, 2026
• Competition: FA Cup Quarterfinal
• Chelsea Goal Scorers: Jorrel Hato, João Pedro, Cole Palmer, Tosin Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos, Estêvão, and Alejandro Garnacho
• Port Vale Own Goal: Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel