Carabao Cup: Chelsea’s fringe stars shine as Nkunku hits three against Barrow

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Chelsea stormed into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with an emphatic 5-0 win against weaker opposition Barrow.

Christopher Nkunku’s outstanding hat-trick headlined a dominant performance as Chelsea showed their superiority against the League Two side.

Enzo Maresca’s strong starting lineup sent an early statement of intent. Despite not being a natural number nine, Nkunku thrived in the role. He was in the right places at the right times, both to score and link up with teammates.

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Former Atlético star Joao Felix was at the heart of the early moments, floating a perfect ball for Nkunku to volley in the opener. Although Felix was unlucky not to score himself, his free-kick led to an own goal after hitting the post and deflecting off goalkeeper Paul Farman.

Felix’s compatriot Pedro Neto, making an impression, opened his Chelsea account with a composed finish after Mykhailo Mudryk’s assist. Mudryk was a constant threat throughout the game as the Ukrainian combined speed and precision to keep Barrow’s defense on edge.

Nkunku completed his treble in unusual fashion after Barrow’s goalkeeper attempted to dribble past him but failed miserably. The former Bundesliga top scorer pounced, stealing the ball and easily rolling it into the net to seal his hat-trick and Chelsea’s rout.

While Nkunku’s hat-trick lifted spirits, Chelsea’s collective performance was a reminder of their depth.

Maresca can take comfort in the form of his squad players, especially those eager to make an impact in the Premier League.

Tags: Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku, Carabao Cup, Chelsea, Barrow, Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk, Paul Farman, Enzo Maresca, #NewsRoundTheClock, #nrtcnewsnigeria, #nrtcnigeria, #nrtcnews, #nrtcsports.