Rosenior reflects on Chelsea’s victory
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Chelsea head coach Rosenior told BBC Sport:
“It’s great, it’s why you come to this club, you want to win trophies, you want to be in big games and I was really happy with the players. Their attitude was top.
“We scored seven goals and that came from an energy and intensity which I enjoyed.
“This is a huge club with a lot of scrutiny, a lot of people writing a lot of things. We had a really difficult 10 days but the way we came through is a really good step for the run-in.”
Tosin targets silverware
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Speaking to BBC Sport, Tosin said:
“Very good, great to play some nice football and to get another win and clean sheet at Stamford Bridge. It’s been a two-week break now since our last games which didn’t go so well and we wanted to come back home and put a good result in and that’s what we did.
“It’s the FA Cup and anything can happen. We knew it was going to be difficult today if we didn’t do our best. They beat a Premier League team in the last round so we knew we had to put in a performance.”
When asked about reaching the final, he replied: “Our aim is to get to the final and win the trophy.”
FT: Chelsea 7 Port Vale 0
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Chelsea avoid the embarrassment of an upset as they thrash Port Vale 7-0 at Stamford Bridge to advance into the FA Cup semi-finals.
The build-up was dominated by some members of Chelsea’s leadership group within the squad questioning the credentials of the project, but the hosts produced a professional performance.
Early efforts from Hato and Joao Pedro, as well as a Port Vale own goal meant that Chelsea cruised into a three-goal lead at half-time. Second half strikes from Tosin, Andrey Santos, Estevao and Garnacho rounded off the eye-catching scoreline.
This result means that Chelsea will join Manchester City in the semi-final draw.
GOAL! Garnacho buries the penalty
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Garnacho won the penalty and he steps up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way, sealing Chelsea’s seventh goal of the contest.
It’s been such a commanding performance from the Premier League side.
PENALTY! Garnacho tripped and the referee points to the spot
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Garnarcho is tripped by Magloire, who has only just come on, and the referee gives the penalty.
87 min: Chelsea 6 Port Vale 0
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Following that sixth goal, Estevao is crowned as the man of the match to cap an impressive individual performance.
GOAL GIVEN! VAR intervenes and Estevao’s tap-in counts
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After a review, Estevao is onside and Chelsea’s sixth goal is confirmed.
GOAL! Chelsea score but the offside flag is up
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Chelsea have the ball in the net, but the offside flag is up. Andrey Santos slips in a pinpoint pass for the onrushing Garnacho.
The former Manchester United man smacks a one-on-one effort off the post and the ball then trickles into Estevao’s path.
The youngster capitalises on the rebound and taps into an empty net. VAR is checking to see if Esteavo is offside...
78 min: Chelsea 5 Port Vale 0
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Lavia has 78 minutes under his belt and he makes way for Kavuma-McQueen, who is making his senior Chelsea debut. What a lovely moment for the 17-year-old.
75 min: Chelsea 5 Port Vale 0
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Although Port Vale are bottom of League One, there was still a tremendous amount of pressure on this young Chelsea side and Rosenior. Nevertheless, Chelsea have managed the occasion professionally and will join Manchester City in the final four of this season’s FA Cup.
Port Vale fans accept their fate
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Ahh, the self-effacing humour of football fans. The Vale fans have just broken into a chorus of “You’re off to Wembley, we’re off to York.” That is York City, the current National League leaders, who may be facing their team in League Two next season.
GOAL! Chelsea have a fifth through Andrey Santos
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Estevao floats an inviting corner into the box. It flies over Gauci, who fails to claim it. It was such poor goalkeeping.
The marking isn’t much better as Andrey Santos ghosts in at the back post and nods in from close range.
66 min: Chelsea 4 Port Vale 0
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Estevao strikes the post again. The youngster has been so lively this evening. He cuts inside and fires a low effort at goal, which cannons off the near post. Estevao looks desperate to score today.
Chelsea dip into their extraordinarily lucrative squad
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Port Vale will be happy to see Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and Neto leave the pitch after an hour. Less so that their replacements cost a combined £88.5m and are eager to join in the goal-fest.
62 min: Chelsea 4 Port Vale 0
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Rosenior refreshes his ranks and makes a triple change.
Delap, Garnacho and Essugo come on for Joao Pedro, Neto and Palmer.
60 min: Chelsea 4 Port Vale 0
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The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge is very relaxed now. Chelsea are popping the ball around with such confidence.
Gauci does well and makes an eye-catching double save to deny Estevao and Palmer.
GOAL! Tosin adds a fourth for Chelsea
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Neto cuts inside and unleashes a venomous strike at goal, which is parried out for a corner by Gauci.
The resulting set piece is played short and Gusto eventually clips a cross to Tosin. The towering defender rises highest and heads into the bottom corner.
Chelsea are heading to Wembley. This game is done and dusted.
53 min: Chelsea 3 Port Vale 0
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The home side are enjoying themselves now. Estevao and Andrey Santos are producing some excellent flicks and one-touch passes. Port Vale are defending desperately at times.
50 min: Chelsea 3 Port Vale 0
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Chelsea are so close to a fourth. The three Brazilians combine as Joao Pedro delightfully flicks the ball into Andrey Santos’ path.
The midfielder spots Estevao’s run and picks out the young winger, whose first-time effort clips post.
47 min: Chelsea 3 Port Vale 0
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Garrity reaches a deep set piece and knocks the ball back into the danger zone towards Sherif. However, the striker’s attempt is well blocked by Tosin and Chelsea emerge with possession.
46 min: Chelsea 3 Port Vale 0
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We are back under way for the second half. Both sides are unchanged at the break.
Port Vale have a mountain to climb
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Half-time and almost certainly game over. This is too easy at times. Chelsea haven’t camped out in their opponents’ half, but when they have sensed a chance, they have sliced open the Port Vale defence with a few rapier-like thrusts. The final score might come down to how hungry Liam Rosenior’s players are given that they don’t have any Champions League fixtures left to drain their stamina in midweek
HT: Chelsea 3 Port Vale 0
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It’s half-time at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea leading 3-0 against Port Vale in this FA Cup quarter-final.
Port Vale’s resistance was broken after just 64 seconds, when Hato powered Chelsea in front. Goals from Joao Pedro and Palmer extended Chelsea’s advantage and any chance of a Port Vale comeback looks nearly impossible now.
45 min: Chelsea 3 Port Vale 0
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There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this first half. Chelsea are in complete control thanks to that third goal.
OWN GOAL! It goes from bad to worse for Port Vale
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That is almost certainly the goal that ends the tie. Joao Pedro drives forward and tees up Gusto.
The Frenchman’s powerful strike is parried out to Palmer by Gauci. Palmer reacts quickest and slams in a close range rebound to put Chelsea in seemingly unassailable control.
However, upon the replays it looks like Port Vale defender Lawrence-Gabriel got the final touch and diverted the ball into his own net.
Huge day out for the League One side
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Port Vale’s average home attendance in a League One season that has provided little motivation to spend a Saturday afternoon at Vale Park is 7,432. That figure will nearly be matched today as 6,000 Valiants fill the Shed End.
38 min: Chelsea 2 Port Vale 0
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There is some momentary worry as the injury-prone Lavia hits the deck after a forceful challenge. The Belgian was clutching his ankle but is back on his feet now.
Port Vale’s defending was questionable for both goals
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If the first goal failed to fully puncture the belief of the Port Vale side, the simplicity with which they conceded the second led to knowing looks among their defenders, as if to say: “Yep, this is going to be a long early evening.”
33 min: Chelsea 2 Port Vale 0
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Port Vale’s Sherif is shown the game’s first yellow card after catching Chelsea defender Fofana with a late sliding challenge.
31 min: Chelsea 2 Port Vale 0
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Port Vale are still waiting to register their first shot on target. Meanwhile, Chelsea have recorded two efforts on target, and they’ve both resulted in goals.
28 min: Chelsea 2 Port Vale 0
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There is a break in play as Andrey Santos clashes heads with Sherif in Port Vale’s box. Both men are receiving treatment, but they look okay to continue.
GOAL! Chelsea double their lead
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Neto latches onto Andrey Santos’ looping ball, which spins off the ground. The winger then finds Joao Pedro with a low cross.
The the Brazilian swivels and works some space, before calmly tucking an effort into the bottom corner.
22 min: Chelsea 1 Port Vale 0
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Gusto drives forward and picks out Palmer, who dribbles at the Port Vale backline. The playmaker works some space, but instead of shooting, he tries passing to Estevao and the chance disappears. Palmer not shooting in that situation could be a telling sign that he’s currently lacking confidence.
20 min: Chelsea 1 Port Vale 0
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Walters is cynically tripped by Lavia, who was a second late to that challenge. The Chelsea midfielder is perhaps lucky to escape a booking there. It gives Port Vale another chance to pump the ball into Chelsea’s box, but it comes to nothing.
17 min: Chelsea 1 Port Vale 0
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Chelsea’s team shows how seriously Rosenior is taking this match. Choosing to start Joao Pedro, Palmer and Neto displays real intent. That early goal from Hato has relieved some pressure on the hosts.
14 min: Chelsea 1 Port Vale 0
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After that early flurry of Chelsea pressure, Port Vale look to be growing into the contest and are getting more bodies forward.
11 min: Chelsea 1 Port Vale 0
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Walters finds some space unleashes a shot. He drags the effort and it almost turns into a pass for Waine at the back post. However, the New Zealand international can’t quite reach it and Chelsea survive. Gusto had let his man drift in behind.
8 min: Chelsea 1 Port Vale 0
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That early Chelsea goal has calmed the nerves and anxiety around Stamford Bridge. Port Vale have barely touched the ball in these opening stages.
4 min: Chelsea 1 Port Vale 0
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Chelsea work an intricate attacking move and the ball is pulled back to Palmer, but the captain’s close range effort is blocked by the Port Vale defence. The League One side are under some serious early pressure.
GOAL! Chelsea make the early breakthrough
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After just 64 seconds, Chelsea are ahead. Port Vale goalkeeper Gauci fails to deal with Neto’s corner, and at the second attempt, he weakly punches it to Hato.
The Chelsea youngster then half volleys a low effort through a sea of bodies and it squirms into the net. It’s the perfect start for the Premier League side.
1 min: Chelsea 0 Port Vale 0
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Port Vale get us under way at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are the overwhelming favourites, but this is the FA Cup, so anything can happen.
The teams are walking out
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Chelsea and Port Vale are out on the pitch, with kick off just moments away. Can Port Vale plunge Chelsea’s season into further turmoil?
Lets hear what Rosenior has to say
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 4, 2026"We have a huge opportunity to reach an FA Cup semi-final."
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior ahead of facing Port Vale at Stamford Bridge 💬
🎙️ @LiamMacdevitt | 📺 Watch live on TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/kBiMDwmE8O
Big night for Palmer
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In the absence of Reece James and Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer has been chosen by Liam Rosenior to captain Chelsea this evening.
What happened earlier on Saturday in the FA Cup?
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Manchester City ripped Liverpool apart, smashing Arne Slot’s side 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
Erling Haaland bagged a hat-trick, while Antoine Semenyo added the other as Mo Salah missed a penalty late in the second half.
Port Vale boss Brady in good spirits ahead of kick-off
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Since Port Vale beat Sunderland in the fifth round on March 8th, they’ve lost four of their last six games in League One.
However, all the focus is on the chaos surrounding Chelsea and Brady looks to be in a relaxed mood.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 4, 2026"We tried to ask the FA if we could have 20 players on the pitch today."
Port Vale boss Jon Brady jokes he might need 20 players to beat Chelsea today 😅
🎙️ @ReshminTV | 📺 Watch live on TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/EE7IxnOcpK
Their paths to this stage
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Chelsea
Third round: Charlton Athletic 1 Chelsea 5
Fourth round: Hull City 0 Chelsea 4
Fifth round: Wrexham 2 Chelsea 4
Port Vale
First round: Port Vale 5 Maldon & Tiptree 1
Second round: Port Vale 1 Bristol Rovers 0
Third round: Port Vale 1 Fleetwood Town 0
Fourth round: Port Vale 1 Bristol City 0
Fifth round: Port Vale 1 Sunderland 0
How Port Vale will line up
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Ben Waine, who netted the winner in the 1-0 victory over Sunderland in the previous round, starts.
The boyhood Newcastle United fan recently returned from international duty with New Zealand and could be crucial this evening, if Port Vale are to cause an upset.
We expect the League One side to line up in a 5-3-2 formation, allowing them to soak up pressure and hopefully hit Chelsea on the counter or punish them at set pieces.
Assessing Chelsea’s team news
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With Reece James injured and Enzo Fernandez banned by the club, Cole Palmer captains Chelsea.
Liam Rosenior has named an incredibly strong lineup, with Joao Pedro, Estevao and Pedro Neto all starting alongside Palmer in attack.
Romeo Lavia and Andrey Santos begin the midfield pivot, with Moises Caicedo named on the bench.
Marc Cucurella is amongst the substitutes following his revealing interview as Jorrel Hato is picked as the starting left back.
Can Port Vale heap more pressure on Chelsea?
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If the adage is true that you are only as good as your last game, then Port Vale have enjoyed 96 years, 363 days in which they could boast of their superiority over Chelsea. The clubs last met on April 6, 1929 with Vale triumphing 1-0 in the old Division 2.
Logic says that particular high ground will be lost today as the side that is 15 points adrift of safety in League One attempt to tap into their incongruously glorious FA Cup form in an otherwise dismal season by overcoming Chelsea’s billion-pound squad at Stamford Bridge.
The line-ups in full
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Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Tosin, Hato, Lavia, Santos, Estevao, Palmer, Neto, Pedro.
Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Acheampong, Sarr, Cucurella, Essugo, Caicedo, Garnacho, Kavuma-McQueen, Delap.
Port Vale: Gauci, Hall, Gabriel, Garrity, Walters, Ojo, Gordon, Waine, Sherif, John, Humphreys.
Subs: Amos, Stockley, Archer, Croasdale, Shipley, Campbell, G. Hall, Magloire, Gray.
Fernandez’s agent feels the punishment is “too harsh”
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Fernandez’s agent, former PSG midfielder Javier Pastore, told The Athletic: “I think it’s far too harsh given Chelsea’s current situation, and there’s no real reason or justification for why he’s been banned.”
Is a shock on the cards?
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Good evening and welcome to our next instalment of the FA Cup quarter-finals as Chelsea host Port Vale at Stamford Bridge. It’s the club sixth in the Premier League versus the side rooted to the bottom of the third tier.
As we’ve just returned from an international break, you would assume it was a quiet week for Chelsea? Well, it’s been quite the opposite.
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior confirmed that Enzo Fernandez has been given a two-game ban because of his controversial comments regarding his future, meaning he will miss this match and next week’s league meeting with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
Following the demoralising 8-2 aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, vice-captain Fernandez plunged his Chelsea future into doubt, telling ESPN Argentina he didn’t know if he would stay at the club. In the international break, he fuelled Real Madrid links by saying: “I really like Madrid - it’s similar to Buenos Aires.”
Marc Cucurella was also vocal in the media, criticising Chelsea’s ownership and questioning the club’s project. The 27-year-old disagreed with Enzo Maresca’s sacking in January, feeling it created “instability” and said that only signing young players will “complicate” chances of winning major trophies. Unlike Fernandez, Cucurella escaped any noteworthy punishment and is available for selection this evening.
Alongside this drama and their Champions League exit, Chelsea have also suffered back-to-back Premier League losses without scoring against Newcastle United and Everton.
For Port Vale, things are looking even bleaker from a league standpoint. They’re bottom of League One, 15 points adrift of safety, although they do have two games in hand over 20th-place Wigan Athletic.
Nevertheless, the FA Cup has been a glorious and welcome avenue of escapism for Port Vale, who are plotting a giant-killing. Jon Brady’s side beat Sunderland in the previous round, and with all eyes on Chelsea, Port Vale could rip up the script and pile even more pressure on their top-flight opponents.
Kick-off is at 5:15 BST, with line-ups on the way shortly.