Neto’s Treble Lights Up Chelsea’s FA Cup Cruise — But Pre‑Match Snub Leaves Sour Taste

Chelsea did exactly what big clubs are meant to do in the FA Cup: turn up, take care of business, and get back on the coach with the tie put to bed. A crisp, clinical 4-0 at the MKM Stadium sent them into the fifth round, with Pedro Neto nicking the match ball and the headlines.

Neto the No 10 — a night to remember

Liam Rosenior didn’t mess about with his selection, naming a strong side featuring Reece James, Moises Caicedo and Neto from the off. It paid off handsomely. Neto broke the deadlock five minutes before the interval, then added two more after the break, either side of a tidy finish from Estevao. Hat-trick secured, arms aloft, job done.

What stood out was Neto’s zip between the lines in that No 10 pocket — quick feet, sharper decisions, and a real nose for the second ball. Chelsea looked balanced, and when the chances came, they were ruthless. In cup football, that efficiency is gold dust.

Pre-match optics: mascot snub sparks fury

Yet for all the excellence on the pitch, the talk online before a ball was kicked was anything but flattering. A club video showed Chelsea’s players arriving and filing past young Hull mascots without so much as a glance. The reaction? Fierce. Many fans branded it tone-deaf, saying a quick smile or high five would have made those kids’ day. Even some Chelsea supporters called it unacceptable and a poor look for modern pros.

Look, players are in the zone and routines matter — we get it. But football’s lifeblood is its people. Two seconds to acknowledge the little ones costs nothing and buys goodwill for miles. The club will know this isn’t the clip they wanted doing the rounds after a 4-0 away win.

Arrests after discriminatory chanting warning

Inside the ground, there were grim notes amid the goals. A stadium and PA warning urged an end to discriminatory chanting, and arrests followed in the second half. After the match, Rosenior reiterated that any discriminatory language is out of bounds, noting he was focused on the game and awaiting full details. Hull head coach Sergej Jakirovic echoed the sentiment, stressing there’s no place for that in a football stadium — or anywhere, for that matter — and that action was rightly taken.

What it means for Chelsea

Into the hat they go for Monday evening’s fifth-round draw, buoyed by a statement scoreline and a forward in Neto who looks right at home pulling the strings. The football was spot on; now the club has a PR bruise to tidy up after that pre-match misstep. Best outcome? Learn fast, move smarter, keep winning.

If you’re weighing up form and cup pedigree ahead of the next round, our hub on best betting sites is a handy starting point — always gamble responsibly and only ever within your means.