Portuguese winger scores three as Blues boss Liam Rosenior enjoys emotional 4-0 victory over the club that sacked him two years ago.
KINGSTON UPON HULL – Pedro Neto delivered a masterclass in finishing, scoring a superb hat-trick to lead Chelsea to a dominant 4-0 victory over Hull City in the FA Cup fourth round, on an emotionally charged night for Blues manager Liam Rosenior at the MKM Stadium.
Facing the club that sacked him two years ago, Rosenior watched his revitalized Chelsea side produce a ruthless attacking display to ease into the fifth round. The win extends the new boss’s impressive start since taking over in January, marking his eighth victory in 12 games.
“It was an emotional evening, but the most pleasing aspect was the mentality,” Rosenior said. “It was a really strong performance in terms of the mental application you need to be successful. Everyone worked really hard for each other.”
Neto Runs Riot
The Portugal international opened the scoring just before halftime with a sublime strike from 20 yards, curling the ball into the corner after being set up by Liam Delap. He then doubled his tally six minutes into the second half, his in-swinging corner from the flank deceiving Hull goalkeeper Dillon Phillips and bouncing directly into the net.
Teenage sensation Estevao Willian added a third in the 59th minute with a composed finish from 12 yards, before Neto completed his treble late on, calmly slotting home another Delap lay-off to round off the scoring in the 71st minute.
Neto’s first career hat-trick for Chelsea was the highlight of a clinical team performance. “Pedro Neto has been outstanding, he works so hard and has so much quality. I’m delighted to see him get the goals,” Rosenior added.
A Night of Mixed Emotions for Rosenior
For the Chelsea boss, the evening was always going to be about more than just the result. Rosenior, a lifelong Hull fan who played for the club for five years and managed them for two, was sacked in 2024 after narrowly missing out on the Championship play-offs.
Despite the painful end to his tenure, he spoke fondly of his connection to the club ahead of the match. “This club means a lot not just to me but also my family for many reasons,” he reflected. While expressing hope that Hull secures Premier League promotion this year, he was pleased with his team’s “attitude and application” that secured the win.
With seven changes to the starting lineup—resting stars like Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez—Chelsea’s depth proved too much for the Championship promotion chasers, who were firmly in the game until Neto’s second-half brace broke their resistance.
Wrexham March On
In Friday’s other fourth-round tie, Wrexham continued their fairytale cup run, beating fellow Championship side Ipswich Town 1-0. The Welsh club, owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have reached the last 16 for the first time since the 1996-97 season.
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