Chelsea’s teenage star Estevao Willian had a great game as the Blues beat Port Vale 7-0 in the FA Cup quarter-final at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The 18-year-old was starting for the first time since getting back from a hamstring injury that had kept him out of action in February and March.
The Brazilian scored a goal and set up another in a dominant performance. He hit the woodwork twice before finally scoring in the 82nd minute. Estevao scored the rebound after Alejandro Garnacho hit the post, but the goal had to be checked by VAR first to make sure he was onside. He also set up Andrey Santos for Chelsea’s fifth goal from a corner, showing off his creativity throughout the game.
Opta say that he is now the youngest player to score and assist in an FA Cup match for a Premier League club since Bukayo Saka did it for Arsenal against Bournemouth in January 2020. After the game, the Brazilian wonderkid posted a heartfelt message on Instagram to the Chelsea fans, thanking them and telling them how much he loved them:
“First of all, I thank God for everything. It’s a blessing to be doing what I love. Very happy with the match, the win, a goal and an assist. Thank you for all the love and support from the fans I love you all.”
After the big win, head coach Liam Rosenior also had a lot of nice things to say about the young player:
“There is no ceiling for him. We’ve missed him. He comes in and just plays, he wants to get on the ball. Wherever he is on the pitch he’s a threat.”
Chelsea have had trouble on the wings this season, and Estevao’s return showed exactly what the Blues had been missing while he was gone. The winger has played 20 Premier League games this season, scoring 2 goals and setting up 2 others. He has also scored three goals in seven Champions League games.
Chelsea had a rough week before this win. They lost two straight Premier League games and were humiliated by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Enzo Fernandez was also suspended from the team for making public comments about his future at the club. Rosenior needed the win because his job had come under increasing scrutiny during the tough stretch of results.
Chelsea Drawn Against Leeds United in FA Cup Semifinal at Wembley
Chelsea will play Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-finals after the draw at the London Stadium on Sunday night. The ties will take place on the weekend of April 25 and 26 at Wembley Stadium. The other semi-final will be between Manchester City and Southampton.
This will be a repeat of the famous 1970 FA Cup final, which Chelsea won after a replay at Old Trafford. The Blues have not yet played a team from the top flight in this year’s FA Cup. They have beaten Charlton Athletic, Hull City, Wrexham, and Port Vale to get to the semi-finals.
Leeds, on the other hand, made it to the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1987 after beating West Ham United in a dramatic quarter-final match on penalties. Chelsea will first host Manchester City at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on April 12, before that date at Wembley.