Chelsea comfortably advanced to the FA Cup fourth round with a resounding 4-0 victory over Preston North End at home on Saturday evening.
Although the Blues had to work for their goals, they demonstrated the clinical edge needed to overcome the Lilywhites, particularly shining in the second half.
Preston struggled to land significant blows and paid the price for not capitalizing on their limited opportunities.
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The game unfolded with Chelsea’s initial chance coming from Alfie Gilchrist’s run into Preston’s box, setting up Raheem Sterling whose close-range effort was deflected and saved by goalkeeper Freddie Woodman. Sterling later tested Woodman with a top-corner strike after winning back possession.
Cole Palmer missed a golden opportunity for Chelsea when he failed to convert a clever ball from Enzo Fernandez, lofting a skewed lob over Woodman.
Preston’s first chance came when Milutin Osmajic’s run caught Levi Colwill off guard, but the shot barely troubled Chelsea’s goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
In the 58th minute, Chelsea took the lead as Mykhailo Mudryk’s pressure up the pitch allowed Malo Gusto to deliver a cross, which was glanced in by Armando Broja.
Chelsea almost doubled their lead with Mudryk providing another fine cross for Broja, whose header narrowly missed the target.
The Blues secured their second goal when Thiago Silva, coming off the bench, nodded in a corner from Palmer.
By the 69th minute, the tie was firmly in Chelsea’s control as Sterling scored his second free-kick goal of the season, firing into the top corner from 20 yards.
Broja had a shot cleared off the line by Andrew Hughes, and although Chelsea had a fourth goal initially disallowed for offside, VAR confirmed Enzo Fernandez was onside, and the goal stood.
In added time, Woodman denied Noni Madueke’s attempt, and Chelsea had to settle for a 4-0 victory.