Chelsea kicked off the Liam Rosenior era in emphatic fashion, cruising into the next round of the FA Cup with a dominant 5-1 victory over Championship side Charlton Athletic at The Valley.
On a cold night in south London, Rosenior rotated his squad heavily, resting key players such as Cole Palmer and Reece James ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal. The changes paid off, as several fringe players seized their opportunity to impress.
Defenders Jorrel Hato and Tosin Adarabioyo, both peripheral figures under former head coach Enzo Maresca, made decisive contributions with goals either side of half-time, highlighting Rosenior’s willingness to trust the wider squad.
Chelsea dominated possession from the opening exchanges but initially struggled to break down Charlton’s compact back five. Despite their territorial control, clear-cut chances were limited, with Jamie Gittens the most dangerous outlet, forcing multiple saves from goalkeeper Will Mannion.
Charlton posed little attacking threat, and Chelsea’s sustained pressure eventually told in first-half stoppage time. Following a lengthy delay caused by a medical emergency in the stands, the ball fell kindly to Hato, who lashed a powerful left-footed strike into the net to score his first goal for the club.
The hosts showed greater intent after the restart, but Chelsea quickly reasserted control. Tosin doubled the lead by heading home Facundo Buonanotte’s free-kick, capitalising on poor defensive organisation from Charlton.
Charlton briefly threatened a comeback when Miles Leaburn reacted quickest to score after an initial save from Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen. However, Rosenior’s side remained composed and responded immediately.
Marc Guiu restored Chelsea’s two-goal advantage by converting a rebound after another Mannion save, effectively ending the home side’s resistance. Late substitute Pedro Neto added a fourth in stoppage time before Enzo Fernandez converted a penalty to complete a ruthless finish.
While the performance was not without its imperfections, Chelsea’s response to conceding and the impact of squad players will encourage Rosenior. The Blues also became the first Chelsea side since Antonio Conte in 2016 to win their manager’s first match in charge.
Despite continued chants against the club’s ownership, the travelling supporters left with tangible evidence of progress as Chelsea advanced comfortably in the FA Cup.
