Neto treble fires Chelseas FA Cup rout of Hull

Chelsea cruised into the FA Cup fifth round thanks to Pedro Netos hat-trick that powered a convincing 4-0 victory over Hull on the day manager Liam Rosenior returned to the club which dismissed him two years earlier.

Hulls team opened the scoring with Netos impressive first-half effort before the Portuguese attacker added another goal shortly after the restart.

Estevao Willian notched Chelseas third goal and Neto sealed his treble with the fourth in a dominant fourth-round performance at the MKM Stadium.

The match held deep emotions for Rosenior, the Blues head coach, as he confronted the team that abruptly ended their extended association with him back in 2024.

Growing up, Rosenior cheered for Hull alongside his grandmother who held a season ticket, he spent five years playing there and led them as manager for two campaigns.

His dismissal came after a close miss on the Championship play-offs, amid backlash over his squads cautious approach.

Even with the tough conclusion to his Hull stint, the 41-year-old described coming back to Humberside as an incredible experience and he seized the opportunity to demonstrate to his former side exactly what they let slip away.

Rosenior has enjoyed a strong beginning at Chelsea after joining from Strasbourg to take over from Enzo Maresca in January, securing victories in eight of his initial 11 fixtures across all tournaments.

He rotated the lineup with seven alterations, resting players like Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro, yet Chelsea proved far superior to the Championship contenders chasing promotion.

Estevao squandered a prime opportunity early on, weaving past Hull goalkeeper Dillon Phillips but then panicking and blasting over the unguarded goal.

Liam Delap had spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Hull under Roseniors guidance.

On this return, Delap was thwarted in odd circumstances when Phillips botched a clearance that struck the Chelsea forward, ricocheted off the crossbar and he could not capitalise on the follow-up.

Chelsea controlled the ball so thoroughly that it came as no shock when they broke the deadlock in the 40th minute.

Having passed up simpler openings, they crafted a stunning strike to go ahead as Delap set up Neto, who curled a brilliant shot into the far corner from 20 yards out.

Andrey Santos leaped for a powerful header that Phillips tipped away just after halftime and from the subsequent corner, Chelsea extended their lead in the 51st minute.

Netos curling delivery deceived Phillips at the front post, slipping through his legs untouched by anyone.

Chelsea had squandered a two-goal lead in their recent 2-2 Premier League draw against Leeds on Tuesday.

However, no such lapse occurred here and Estevao slotted home the third with a calm effort from 12 yards in the 59th minute.

Neto completed the scoring in the 71st minute, guiding a precise low shot beyond Phillips after Delaps assist.

In the other fourth-round clash on Friday, Wrexham defeated Championship rivals Ipswich 1-0.

The Welsh outfit, co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, advanced to the last 16 for the first time since the 1996-97 season.