![FT: Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez STRIKES As Blues QUALIFY For FA Cup Fifth Round [VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS]](https://i0.wp.com/lcsoccerhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Screenshot_20240208-073414.jpg?fit=716%2C374&ssl=1)
Chelsea have booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round with an emphatic replay victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park, LCSoccerHub Reports.
Having settled for a barren first-leg draw at Stamford Bridge, the Blues needed a win against the Villains to progress to the next round of the competition.
Meanwhile, it was a nightmare weekend for the English giants having suffered a shock 4-2 defeat to visiting Wolves at Stamford Bridge.
Pochettino was under pressure to bounce back from Wolves defeat with nothing less than a win at Villa Park.
The Blues were on the ascendancy as the game kicked off, wielding possession, and staying top of proceedings in the game.
Despite coming under intense pressure, Aston Villa refused to budge on their attacking instincts. They sustained an equal attacking drive, trying to win possession and breaking on offensives with the ball.
The game took on a frantic pace as the two teams maintained equal attacking flair with Chelsea more dominant and threatening when charging forward.
It was not long before Chelsea’s sustained pressure and spirited start yielded results. Conor Gallagher fired the Blues into the lead in the 11th minute.
Jackson had paced into the Aston Villa area before picking on Noni Madueke, who located Conor Gallagher. Gallagher smashed it into the top-left corner pass Emiliano Martinez.
Chelsea struck again 10 minutes after Conor Gallagher’s goal to double the lead. Malo Gusto had crossed the ball into the area. An unmarked Nicolas Jackson turned up for the form book after a scoreless run, heading the cross pass Martinez to double the lead for the Blues.
The two goals were enough to send the Blues into the lead before the break.
Aston Villa stepped up their game in the second half but were dealt a heavier blow in the 54th minute when Enzo Fernandez scored a crazy freekick from 25 yards to seal the win.
Diaby got a late consolation goal for the hosts in the 91st minute, scoring a thunderbolt to cut the goal arrears as Chelsea ran out with a 3-1 victory after the final whistle to set up an FA Cup fifth-round clash with Leeds United.
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