Chelsea secured a comfortable 5-1 away victory over Charlton Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup at the Valley on Saturday night to kickstart Liam Rosenior’s managerial reign at the club.
The Blues bossed possession early on and got the game’s first real chance in the 15th minute after Facundo Buonanotte picked out Jorrel Hato with a delightful cross, but the fullback’s header was collected by Will Mannion.
Moments later, Buonanotte found Jamie Gittens at the edge of the area, who drilled in a low shot, but Mannion was there again to keep the score at bay.
The Blues continued to search for the opener just before the half-hour mark, and both Tosin Adarabioyo and Gittens saw their long-range efforts sail wide.
In the 33rd minute, Josh Acheampong almost gave the visitors the lead, but his effort from distance was parried away by Mannion.
On the stroke of halftime, Gittens, who had been brilliant all night, tried his luck from the edge of the area, but his effort was palmed away again by the Charlton goalkeeper.
However, just before the break, Hato broke the deadlock after he met Marc Guiu’s header with a half volley to give Chelsea the deserved lead.
Five minutes after the restart, Tosin doubled the Blues’ advantage after he headed home Buonanotte’s cross from a corner at the back post.
In the 57th minute, Miles Leaburn pulled one back for the Addicks after Lloyd Jones’ header from a corner was saved by Filip Jorgensen into the path of the former Chelsea academy player, who buried home the rebound.
However, five minutes later, Guiu restored the visitors’ two-goal advantage after Alejandro Garnacho made his way into the area, finding Buonanotte to the right, whose shot was saved by Mannion but parried to the young Spaniard, who smashed it beyond the goalkeeper.
Moments later, substitutes Estevao, Liam Delap and Enzo Fernandez saw their respective efforts saved by Mannion.
On the stroke of full-time, Pedro Neto got the visitors’ fourth after he was found by Andrey Santos, and the Portuguese drilled in a low shot to the near post.
The day went from bad to worse for the Addicks after Chelsea were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time when Mannion brought down Estevao in the area.
Fernandez stepped up to take the spot kick and dispatched it calmly beyond Mannion.
Rosenior will take charge of his first game at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea welcome rival Arsenal to West London for the first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal on Wednesday.