Chelsea march on in Cup, as Tigers tamed
WILLIAN dispatched two inchperfect finishes as Chelsea cruised past Hull 4-0 and into the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The hard-grafting Brazil forward’s smart brace sealed a comfortable Stamford Bridge victory stroll, with Olivier Giroud bagging his first Chelsea goal and Pedro also on target before the half-time whistle.
Willian also showed his savvy side, however, appearing to distract David Meyler with a comment just before the Hull midfielder missed a second-half penalty.
Meyler turned around and ruffled Willian’s hair – with both all smiles – but the Hull star’s tame spot-kick was saved by Willy Caballero.
Chelsea proved so dominant as to coast through the entire second half, with under-fire manager Antonio Conte applauding fans for lending support by pointedly chanting his name.
They punished Hull’s nerves without mercy, claiming all four goals in a ruthless first-half showing.
Willian whipped home the opener from 20 yards in just the second minute. The Brazilian skinned Kevin Stewart, picked his spot and dispatched a stylish opener, that kick-started a goal glut to stun the visitors.
Giroud missed two fine chances with Pedro failing to latch onto a smart throughball in between those failed efforts for the Frenchman.
Chelsea hardly had to wait for their second goal however, Pedro hauling down a fine pass from Cess Fabregas, and drilling home.
And when Giroud mugged Stewart just outside the box, Chelsea killed any remaining shred of a Hull fightback. The former Arsenal hitman fed Willian, and the 29-year-old duly rifled in another.
Giroud even troubled the scorers himself before the break, stretching backwards smartly to poke home at the near post from Emerson’s cross.
Hull started the second half the brighter, with Harry Wilson drawing a foul and penalty from Fabregas.
Caballero easily dealt with Meyler’s tame penalty however, after Willian’s intervention.
Determined to complete his hat-trick, first Willian was just unable to work space to drill home then saw another teasing effort rebound off the upright.