Chelsea have made their way into the last 16 of the FA Cup with an impressive 3-0 win over Newcastle United. Two goals from Michy Batshuayi and screamer from Marcos Alonso was enough to secure the Premier League holders passage into round 5.
The first half started fairly poorly or the hosts, with the Blues giving away possession fairly easily and allowing the visitors some brilliant chances on their goal. Dwight Gayle and Jonjo Shelvey both wasted good opportunities for the visitors before Batshuayi put Antonio Conte’s ahead.
A brilliant long ball from Pedro was collected by Eden Hazard, who fed the ball into the onrushing Marcos Alonso. Pedro was aware enough to square the ball to the unmarked striker, who played the ball into an unmanned goal. This was Batshuayi’s tenth goal of the season which is a superb one given his lack of playing time.
He quickly made it eleven goals for the season soon after the Belgium international was fed the ball and had a low shot and that took a deflection off Jamaal Lascelles and looped over Karl Darlow. That gave the Blues a two-goal lead at half-time and Newcastle could not make any inroads after the break.
This game was not the most thrilling match but the one real moment of quality came for the third goal. Chelsea won a free kick on the right hand side of the area around 25 yards out. Alonso stood over it and whipped the ball into the top right corner of Darlow’s goal, leaving the Newcastle keeper stranded. That wrapped up the tie for Chelsea who are in the hat for the next round.
The draw for the last 16 fixtures on Monday night at 7pm, live on BBC One.