Morata Brace Sends Chelsea Through On Fabregas

By Max Wise

Two goals from Alvaro Morata ensured Chelsea progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the 21st consecutive season with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest despite the outgoing Cesc Fabregas missing a first-half penalty.

Chelsea, who are the defending champions of the oldest club competition in the world after last season’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in the final, were awarded a first-half penalty after Nottingham Forest’s Danny Fox brought down Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the box.

Up stepped Cesc Fabregas, rumored to be on his way to French side AS Monaco, but his stuttering run to deceive Luke Steel in the Forest goal failed as the goalkeeper dived to his right to push the ball away.

Another player who might depart Chelsea in the January transfer window is Callum Hudson-Odoi after Bayern Munich tabled a £30m offer for the highly rated English youngster, and it was he who had the keys to unlock Forest’s stubborn defense after a goalless first half with two assists.

First, Odoi supplied a perfect low cross into the six-yard box for the much-maligned Morata who appeared in front of his marker to strike past the goalkeeper in the 49th minute.

The impressive Odoi sent in another searching cross ten minutes later, and it was Morata again, who profited by climbing highest to head into the net for Chelsea’s second goal of the day.

There was time for Fabregas to bid an emotional farewell to the Stamford Bridge crowd after 198 appearances, two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one League Cup, with a move to AS Monaco said to be on the cards.