The EFL Cup third round continued tonight, with four more teams securing their place in the last 16.
Scorers: Nkunku 8′, 15′, 75′, Farman (OG) 29′, Neto 48′
Christopher Nkunku hit a hat-trick as Chelsea cruised into the fourth round with a 5-0 rout of League Two leaders Barrow at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues needed only eight minutes to open the scoring, and it came in splendid fashion. JoĂŁo FĂ©lix found space on the edge of the box and scooped the ball over the Barrow defence to Christopher Nkunku, who sidefooted a volley into the net.
Nkunku got his and Chelsea’s second seven minutes later, brilliantly flicking in Malo Gusto’s cross at the near post.
It was 3-0 just before the half-hour mark when Félix’s free kick’s clipped the post and hit off Barrow keeper Paul Farman before going into the net.
The second half started as the second ended, as Pedro Neto got in on the act with his first goal for the club. Mikhailo Mudryk unselfishly passed the ball to him to slot home.
Nkunku collected the match ball with 15 minutes remaining, robbing the ball off Farman before slotting home, to complete a perfect night for him and his side.
Scorers: Doku 5′, Nunes 38′; Ince 86′
Manchester City survived a late scare to progress to the fourth round with a 2-1 win against Watford at the Etihad Stadium.
It took just five minutes for City to open the scoring through Jérémy Doku. Some slack passing at the back from Watford led to Jack Grealish finding the Belgian winger, who coolly slotted home from inside the box.
The Hornets though they had equalised in the 23rd minute but Kwadwo Baah was adjudged (with no VAR at this stage of the competition) to have fouled City’s 16-year-old debutant Kaden Braithwaite in the build-up.
Pep Guardiola’s side doubled their lead seven minutes before half time. Rico Lewis found Matheus Nunes just outside the box, and the Portuguese midfielder got his first goal for the club with a lovely left-footed passed finish.
Watford grabbed a late consolation with four minutes left, and what a consolation it was. Kyle Walker made a mess of a clearance, allowing Giorgi Chakvetadze to pass the ball to Tom Ince, who curled a screamer into the top corner.
However, Tom Cleverley’s side could not find an equaliser as they suffered a 16th consecutive loss to the Premier League champions.
Scorers: Kone 90+5′ (P); Buendia 55′, Durán (P) 85′
Aston Villa defeated Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 at Adams Park to progress to the fourth round.
After Wycombe more than held their own against a much-changed Villa side for 55 minutes, the Premier League side broke the deadlock through Emiliano BuendĂa.
The Argentine attacker, who missed nearly all of last season with a serious knee injury, did brilliantly to head the ball into the net after youngster Kadan Young’s cross cross was deflected into his path.
Villa secured their spot in the draw for the next round with five minutes left, Jhon Durán continuing his fine form with a spot kick, which meant Richard Kone’s last-gasp strike was little more than a much-deserved consolation.
Danny Ward made three penalty saves from three in the shootout to help Leicester past Walsall at Bescot Stadium.
League Two side Walsall more than held their own, and even had the better chances in the first half against Steve Cooper’s much-changed side.
Likely wanting to avoid the lottery penalties, the Foxes picked things up after the break, with Abdul Fatawu in particular looking lively.
They could not, but had their keeper’s heroics to thank for their spot in the last 16.
