EFL Cup: Chelsea Dominate, Man City Edge Watford 2-1, Aston Villa Hold Off Wycombe!

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Christopher Nkunku’s hat-trick led Chelsea’s 5-0 win over Barrow, while Aston Villa and Manchester City edged past their opponents to advance in the EFL Cup. Leicester City survived a penalty shootout against Walsall to secure their spot in the last 16!

EFL CUP Chelsea vs Barrow

The EFL Cup third round action continued in thrilling fashion as top Premier League sides battled lower-tier teams for a place in the last 16. Chelsea showcased a masterclass in attacking football, while Manchester City survived a late scare. Aston Villa displayed resilience to fend off Wycombe, and Leicester City barely managed to scrape through after a tense penalty shootout. Here’s how the action unfolded across the grounds.

Christopher Nkunku Stars as Chelsea Crush Barrow in EFL Cup

Chelsea vs Barrow: Chelsea booked their place in the fourth round with a stunning 5-0 demolition of League Two leaders Barrow at Stamford Bridge. Leading the charge for the Blues was Christopher Nkunku, who netted a sensational hat-trick. His clinical finishing and sharp movement left Barrow’s defense helpless.

Chelsea opened the scoring just eight minutes into the match. João Félix, operating as a creative force, chipped a delightful ball over the Barrow defense, finding Nkunku perfectly positioned to volley home the first goal. The French forward doubled his tally seven minutes later, this time showcasing his instinctive attacking prowess by flicking Malo Gusto’s cross into the net.

Barrow’s evening went from bad to worse just before the half-hour mark when João Félix’s curling free kick hit the post and ricocheted off goalkeeper Paul Farman into the back of the net, leaving the visitors 3-0 down. Despite some resistance from Barrow in the second half, Chelsea’s dominance continued.

Pedro Neto added a fourth goal for Chelsea in the 52nd minute, tapping in from close range after an unselfish assist by Mikhailo Mudryk. Nkunku completed his hat-trick with a piece of opportunism in the 75th minute, seizing on a defensive lapse to steal the ball from Farman and calmly slot it into the empty net.

This commanding victory not only saw Chelsea advance but also solidified Nkunku’s growing reputation as a top goal-scorer at Stamford Bridge.

Aston Villa Overcome Wycombe’s Resistance

Aston Villa vs Wycombe: At Adams Park, Aston Villa faced a resilient Wycombe Wanderers side that put up a strong fight before succumbing to a 2-1 defeat. It took Villa 55 minutes to break the deadlock, with Emiliano Buendía scoring a crucial header. After missing almost the entire previous season due to a knee injury, Buendía’s goal marked a positive return to form for the Argentine playmaker.

Kadan Young, Villa’s exciting prospect, played a key role in the goal, sending a cross into the box that deflected into Buendía’s path. Villa’s control of the game grew stronger as Wycombe, a League One side, began to tire.

Villa’s Jhon Durán continued his impressive run of form, netting a penalty in the 85th minute to effectively seal the match. Durán, known for his pace and technical ability, dispatched the spot-kick with confidence. Wycombe managed a late consolation goal when Richard Kone fired home a close-range effort in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late.

Despite Wycombe’s best efforts, Aston Villa’s quality and experience shone through, booking their spot in the fourth round.

EFL CUP Highlights

Manchester City Survive Watford Scare

Man City vs Watford: Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City faced a spirited challenge from Championship side Watford but eventually secured a 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium. City started strong and were ahead within five minutes, thanks to a mistake from the Watford defense. Jack Grealish capitalized on the loose ball, setting up Jérémy Doku to calmly finish from inside the box.

Watford thought they had equalized midway through the first half when Kwadwo Baah slotted home, but the goal was controversially disallowed. Referee Stuart Attwell ruled that Baah had fouled City’s 16-year-old debutant, Kaden Braithwaite, in the build-up—a decision that left Watford frustrated.

City doubled their lead just before half-time when Matheus Nunes found the net for his first goal for the club. The Portuguese midfielder finished brilliantly from the edge of the box after receiving a neat pass from Rico Lewis.

Watford fought back late in the game, and their persistence paid off when Tom Ince scored a stunning goal in the 86th minute. City defender Kyle Walker misjudged a clearance, allowing Giorgi Chakvetadze to set up Ince for a spectacular strike into the top corner. Despite this late scare, City held on for the win and progressed to the next round.

Leicester City Edge Walsall in Penalty Shootout

Walsall vs Leicester City: Leicester’s clash with Walsall at Bescot Stadium proved to be a tense affair, with the League Two side pushing the Foxes all the way to penalties. Steve Cooper’s heavily rotated Leicester side struggled to break down a determined Walsall defense in normal time, and the game ended goalless after 90 minutes.

Leicester’s attack, led by Abdul Fatawu, looked more lively in the second half but was unable to find the decisive breakthrough. As the match moved to penalties, it was Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward who emerged as the hero, saving all three of Walsall’s penalties to guide his team through to the next round.

While the Foxes may have avoided an upset, their performance left much to be desired, and they will need to improve in the later stages of the competition.

Looking Ahead: Four Teams March On

The EFL Cup continues to produce thrilling encounters, with Chelsea, Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Leicester City all advancing to the fourth round. While Chelsea and Villa cruised through, City had to hold off a late comeback, and Leicester narrowly avoided an embarrassing upset. As the competition heats up, these Premier League sides will be eyeing a deep run to claim the coveted trophy.

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