Walsall 1-4 Chelsea: Kenedy stars as Blues ease through

Goals from Ramires, Loic Remy, Kenedy and Pedro help the Blues advance into the fourth round of the League Cup but were tested on their trip to Bescot Stadium on Wednesday

Defending champions Chelsea were forced to work hard for victory against lower league Walsall but Kenedy's second half strike sealed their progression into the next stage of the competition.
It took just 10 minutes for the Blues to find the breakthrough against their League One opponents as Kenedy was given time on the left by-line to pick out Ramires at the back post to head in his first goal of the season.
Loic Remy doubled the Blues’ advantage moments before the break as he found space in the box to power a shot into the top corner but their celebrations were short lived as James O’Connor turned in Asmir Begovic’s parried save in stoppage time.

But Brazilan forward Kenedy was to put the game beyond doubt with a calmly taken strike after a disguised through ball from fellow youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek mid-way through the second half before substitute Pedro added his name to the scoresheet in stoppage time.

Keen to build on the momentum provided by two wins in the last week, Chelsea's start showed no evidence of taking their lower-league opposition lightly.

The visitors' early ventures into the attacking third saw Kenedy thrive, though he was denied a first goal for the club in the third minute by a crucial O'Connor block.

Kenedy proved even more effective seven minutes later as Chelsea broke the deadlock.

The teenager pounced on a botched clearance and picked out the run of Ramires with a pinpoint cross, allowing the midfielder to head home.

Radamel Falcao should have doubled their advantage shortly after, but again O'Connor was there to clear in the six-yard box after Neil Etheridge had been beaten.

But the away side finally got their second four minutes before the break – Remy producing an emphatic finish after Ramires' incisive pass.

Walsall went into the interval buoyant, however, as O'Connor pulled one back with a scuffed finish from close range after Asmir Begovic could only parry a long-range free-kick from former Chelsea man Milan Lalkovic.

Chelsea started the second half full of intent, though, swiftly adding a third in the 52nd minute through the impressive Kenedy, who latched on to Ruben Loftus-Cheek's exquisite first-time pass and rifled into the net.

Walsall enjoyed some late pressure, delighting their supporters with a fine show of character, but Chelsea's depth and array of talent told at the end, as substitute Pedro slammed home from distance right at the end to round things off.