Kenedy scores as Chelsea ease through

Walsall 1 Chelsea 4

Kenedy scored on his full debut for Chelsea as they eased into the fourth round of the League Cup, where they will be away to Stoke City. 

Ramires and Loic Remy netted before James O’Connor pulled a goal back for League One side Walsall just before half-time.

The two-goal lead was re-established by Kenedy seven minutes into the second half and Pedro netted an injury-time fourth.

Summer signing Kenedy, 19, set up the opener, crossing from the left for fellow Brazilian Ramires to head past former Fulham keeper Neil Etheridge.

Remy missed a chance to make it 2-0 on 36 minutes when he was unable to force in the loose ball after Paul Downing’s goal-line clearance had denied Radamel Falcao.

But the Frenchman made no mistake when Ramires ran at the Walsall defence and teed him up five minutes later.

Remy walloped past Etheridge and into the roof of the net – the striker’s first goal of the season.

Walsall battled on and were rewarded when O’Connor’s scuffed follow-up trickled over the line after keeper Asmir Begovic had parried a free-kick from former Chelsea youngster Milan Lalkovic.

The Saddlers’ hopes of a comeback were crushed when Ruben Loftus-Cheek collected John Mikel Obi’s pass and played in Kennedy, who fired home.

Pedro showed fine skill for his goal by gliding away from two defenders, but Etheridge should probably have saved the Spaniard’s shot from near the edge of the penalty area.