Nkunku bags Carabao Cup hat-trick against minnows to give boss Maresca welcome selection headache.
2024/2025 League Cup
5-0
Match Report
Christopher Nkunku scored a hat-trick as Chelsea breezed into round four of the EFL Cup by emphatically brushing aside League Two leaders Barrow 5-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Standing in for the in-form Nicolas Jackson, Nkunku stole the show with two goals in the first half before rounding off his hat-trick in the 75th minute as the much-changed Blues ran riot on Tuesday.
Nkunku opened the floodgates in the eighth minute, with the France international flicking in a second before Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman turned into his own net.
Pedro Neto made it 4-0 straight after the break, tapping home from Mykhailo Mudryk's centre.
Barrow may be top of the pile in England’s fourth tier, but they managed just one shot on target as Nkunku added further gloss before going off with 15 minutes remaining.
While Barrow will reflect on their first EFL Cup third-round appearance since 1967-68, Chelsea will aim to keep up their early season momentum when they take on Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.
Before this game, the only previous meeting between Chelsea and Barrow in any competition was in the 1947-48 FA Cup third round – the Blues won 5-0 at Stamford Bridge.
History repeated itself on Tuesday, as Chelsea (who mustered 3.0 xG to Barrow's 0.3) made it seven wins from their last seven EFL Cup ties against teams from the fourth tier. Job done in comfortable fashion for Enzo Maresca.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
8' Nkunku puts Blues in lead as Felix assists! Chelsea 1-0 Barrow
11' Chelsea's attempt in the box is saved
15' Nkunku nets brace and doubles the lead! Chelsea 2-0 Barrow
28' Felix's free-kick hits the post and bounce off keeper's back! Chelsea 3-0 Barrow
42' Blues' long shot outside the box saved by the keeper
45' Felix's right footed shot saved by goalkeeper
46' Substitution for Chelsea! Chilwell replaces Gusto
48' NETO SCORES HIS FIRST GOAL FOR CHELSEA! Chelsea 4-0 Barrow
50' Chilwell's right footed shot wide out after bouncing from the ground
57' CLOSE! Blues header stopped by the keeper
68' Barrow's free kick saved by the keeper
72' CLOSE! Blues attempt in the box got wide out
75' Nkunku's hat-trick extends the lead for Blues! Chelsea 5-0 Barrow
Line-ups
Chelsea XI: Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Felix, Pedro Neto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Benoît Badiashile, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Filip Jørgensen, Malo Gusto, Cesare Casadei, Renato Veiga
Subs: Marcus Bettinelli, Chilwell, Enzo Fernández, Carney Chukwuemeka, Levi Colwill, Josh Acheampong, Tyrique George, Marc Guiu, Deivid Washington
Barrow XI: Sam Foley, Paul Farman, Chris Stokes, Rory Feely, Elliot Newby, Theo Vassell, Dean Campbell, Gerard Garner, Kian Spence, Emile Acauah, Ben Jackson
Subs: David Worrall, Niall Canavan, Dom Telford, Andy Dallas, Einar Iversen, Junior Tiensia, Charlie Weston, Wyll Stanway, neo eccleston