Christopher Nkunku showcased his striking prowess with a stunning hat-trick as Chelsea easily secured their place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, defeating League Two side Barrow 5-0 at Stamford Bridge.
The 26-year-old Frenchman opened the scoring early in the eighth minute, demonstrating his composure with a well-placed finish following a delightful chipped pass from Joao Felix.
Nkunku quickly doubled the lead with a clever flick, redirecting Malo Gusto’s low cross into the net.
The Blues extended their advantage when Felix’s free-kick struck the post before ricocheting off Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman, finishing the first half with a comfortable 3-0 lead.
Just two minutes into the second half, Pedro Neto marked his arrival with his first goal for Chelsea, tapping in after a quick pass from Mykhailo Mudryk.
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Nkunku capped off the dominant performance in the 75th minute, stealing the ball from Farman and tapping it into an empty net to complete his treble.
With this standout performance, Nkunku now boasts six goals in his first eight appearances for Chelsea, marking a strong start to his season.
After his first start since the opening-day defeat to Manchester City, Nkunku’s return to form will be a welcome boost for Chelsea as they look to build momentum.