Man City Crush Chelsea In FA Cup, Villa Upset By Stevenage

Manchester City powered to a second victory against troubled Chelsea in the space of four days as Riyad Mahrez inspired a 4-0 rout in the FA Cup third round, while Aston Villa crashed to a 2-1 defeat against fourth tier Stevenage on Sunday.

After Premier League sides Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth were humiliated by lower-league opposition on Saturday, Unai Emery’s Villa were rocked by Stevenage’s two-goal blast in the final minutes.

Premier League champions City rarely suffer such humiliation and they made the strongest possible start by dismissing Chelsea with contemptuous ease at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola made seven changes from the City side that won 1-0 at Chelsea in the Premier League on Thursday.

But City were still far too dynamic for struggling Chelsea as Mahrez struck with a brilliant free-kick and a late penalty, with Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden also scoring. City will face leaders Arsenal or third-tier Oxford in the fourth round on Monday.

City had already eliminated Chelsea from the League Cup that season and the west London club’s first exit from the third round of the FA Cup since 1998 saw a season that risked spiraling out of control. was another shot of him.

It may be too early for Chelsea manager Graham Potter to fear sacking, but just four months after arriving from Brighton, the 47-year-old is grappling with a miserable physique to replace sacked Thomas Tuchel. You may be having sleepless nights while doing this. team.

Chelsea have won just three of their last 12 games and he sits 10th in the Premier League. This puts him ten points away from the top four that the club’s American owner would have expected from Potter.

Potter took some comfort in the sound of Chelsea fans chanting Tuchel’s name as he adored the Germans who propelled them to Champions League glory in 2021. Given Chelsea’s predicament, it was odd that Potter decided to make six changes, with Bashir Humphries making his debut and fellow teenage boy Lewis Hall also starting.

Mahrez took advantage of Potter’s pick when he drew a rushing foul from the hole in the 23rd minute.

The Algerian winger scored against Chelsea on Thursday, this time with a spectacular 25-yard free-kick into the top corner.

– Woe to Chelsea –

His second goal for City came when Chelsea striker Kai Hen Havertz holed the ball when he challenged Aymeric Hen Laporte from a corner.

Alvarez scored a penalty in the 30th minute with Kepa he past Arrizabalaga, but the Chelsea goalkeeper tried to distract the Argentine world champion by talking him down before the free-kick. Chelsea were torn and Foden scored a third in the 38th minute. The England striker completed Kyle Walker’s cross after Mahrez’s pass unbalanced the ragged visitors.

Chelsea’s woes in the past three FA Cup finals were exacerbated when Mahrez scored a penalty after Kalidou Koulibaly fouled Foden in the 85th minute.

Villa boss Unai Emery has made eight substitutions of him against Stevenage and the side, now second in the second division, have forced the Spanish player to pay for his decision. bottom.

Morgan Sanson put Villa ahead in the 33rd minute, but Jamie Reed equalized on a penalty in the 88th minute after Leander Dendonker was sent off for a Dean Campbell foul.

And Campbell sparked Stevenage’s thunderous cheers when he hit home from a short corner in the 90th minute. Leeds were lucky to avoid embarrassment after a dramatic 2–2 draw with Cardiff in the second division.

Jesse Marsh’s side were blown away by first-half goals from Jayden Philogen Vidas and Sheyi Ojo.

Rodrigo recovered his one in his 65th minute and then missed a penalty.