Chelsea Storms Past Hull City: Pedro Neto's Hat-Trick Leads Blues to FA Cup Fifth Round

Chelsea FC solidified their position in the FA Cup fifth round with a commanding 4-0 triumph over Hull City on Friday evening, with Pedro Neto stealing the show. The Portuguese international scored a stunning hat-trick, including a goal from a corner kick. Estevao also found the net, helping the Blues overwhelm Liam Rosenior's former team.

The match began with Chelsea creating two significant opportunities within the first 10 minutes. Alejandro Garnacho forced a save from the Hull goalkeeper, and Neto saw his rebound effort blocked. Hull responded quickly, with Liam Millar capitalizing on a mistake by Reece James in the Chelsea penalty area. However, Mamadou Sarr's timely block prevented a Hull goal.

In the snowy conditions of Yorkshire, both Estevao and Liam Delap squandered clear chances early in the game. Estevao rounded the goalkeeper but skied his shot, while Delap failed to convert a simple opportunity after a clearance from Chelsea's Dillon Phillips.

Neto made amends for his earlier miss with a superb strike just before halftime, curling a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. He doubled his tally in the 50th minute with a devilish corner that evaded everyone and squeezed through Phillips' legs into the net.

Delap and Estevao redeemed themselves by combining for Chelsea's third goal. Delap held off a defender and squared the ball for Estevao to finish. Neto completed his hat-trick in the 70th minute, latching onto a Delap touch and converting with a poacher's finish.

Hull had a late chance to score when Lewis Koumas hit the post, but Chelsea's dominance was clear. The Blues secured a comprehensive victory, advancing to the next round of the FA Cup.

**Player Ratings:**

**Goalkeeper & Defence:**
- Robert Sanchez (6/10): Had little to do but distributed the ball well when called upon.
- Reece James (6/10): Made an error in his own area but recovered well before being substituted.
- Wesley Fofana (7/10): Won all his duels, effectively nullifying Hull's attack.
- Mamadou Sarr (7/10): Made a crucial block to prevent a Hull goal and looked comfortable in the backline.
- Jorrel Hato (7/10): Unsettled Hull's goalkeeper with his presence and got forward when possible before being substituted late.

**Midfield:**
- Andrey Santos (8/10): Excellent distribution and movement, constantly pushing Chelsea forward.
- Moises Caicedo (7/10): Dominated Hull's midfielders with his physicality and ball control until his substitution on the hour.

**Attack:**
- Pedro Neto (10/10): Scored a brilliant hat-trick, including a stunning corner goal and two clinical finishes.
- Liam Delap (8/10): Missed an early chance but provided three assists in the second half, showcasing his strength and power.
- Estevao (7/10): Overcame an early miss to score the third goal, demonstrating resilience and a strong mentality.
- Alejandro Garnacho (7/10): Missed an early chance but consistently troubled the Hull defense with his close control.

**Substitutes & Manager:**
- Josh Acheampong (6/10): Came on for Caicedo and slotted in well.
- Enzo Fernandez (6/10): Replaced James in the second half.
- Tosin Adarabioyo (6/10): Came on for Fofana.
- Jesse Derry (N/A): Made his debut for Chelsea.
- Shumaira Mheuka (N/A): Made a late debut.
- Liam Rosenior (7/10): Managed a fine win at his old stomping ground, rotating his squad effectively and maintaining Chelsea's attacking flow.