Oscar hits first-half hat-trick as Chelsea cruise past MK Dons

Oscar scored three goals before half-time as Chelsea crushed MK Dons to reach the FA Cup fifth round.

Chelsea went into the game knowing that the FA Cup represents probably their best chance of silverware in an otherwise disappointing season, so the very strong team put out by Guus Hiddink was hardly a surprise.

What was a surprise was the approach from Karl Robinson’s MK Dons, who were so open and attacking that they were almost inviting Chelsea to rack up a big score-line.

The Premier League visitors could have been four up before Oscar hit the back of the net in the 16th minute, and they fluffed a host of other chances in a dominant first half performance.

Darren Potter’s deflected strike briefly gave the Dons hope, but Oscar hit twice more before the interval, wrapping up his hat-trick with a lovely curling finish in the 44th minute.

There was no let-up from Chelsea after the break, with Hazard winning a penalty and ending his lengthy goal drought from the spot and young substitute Bertrand Traore adding a fifth.

For Chelsea the fifth round and a morale-boosting cup run beckons, while MK Dons can return their focus to the Championship survival scrap, safe in the knowledge that they have some way to go before they reach top-flight standard.

3’ – SAVE – What a save! David Martin, whose Dad won the FA Cup with West Ham, produces an outstanding stop from point-blank range to deny Costa. The build-up from Chelsea was impressively slick, but Martin made himself big and is patted on the back by his grateful team-mates.

16’ – GOAL!MK Dons 0-1 Chelsea: Oscar opens the scoring for Chelsea. The ball was given away in a dangerous area by the Dons and Costa punished the error by drawing the keeper out of position and teeing up Oscar to slide in and finish beyond the covering defender on the line.

22’ – GOAL!MK Dons1-1 Chelsea: MK Dons are back level. Darren Potter has a pop on the edge of the box and the shot takes a wicked deflection off the trailing leg of Matic and loops over the helpless goalkeeper. It's a real slice of luck, but they all count. 1-1.

24’– SAVE – Martin makes another brilliant save to deny Hazard one-on-one. His first save turns the ball on to the post and then he's alert enough to deny the Belgian's second attempt.

25’ – MISS – It's a Keystone Cops moment for Chelsea as the ball is slid across the face of goal with Oscar waiting to tap it into an empty net. The away fans are already celebrating as Costa slides in to get a toe to the cross ahead of Oscar, taking it away from his team-mate and also diverting the ball wide of the far post.

32’ – GOAL!MK Dons1-2Chelsea: Chelsea are back ahead and it's Oscar again. The build-up is free-flowing, with Loftus-Cheek sliding through a pass to Oscar inside the box after a lovely passing move in midfield. The angle is tight and there's a man on him, but the Brazilian doesn't falter and his finish into the far corner is emphatic. 2-1 Chelsea. Fully deserved.

44’ – GOAL!MK Dons1-3Chelsea: That's the hat-trick for Oscar! He picks up the ball out on the left touchline, cuts inside and glides past man after a man to work room for a shot before picking out the top corner. It's a lovely strike and a fitting way to earn him the match ball. 3-1 Chelsea.

54’– PENALTY – Hazard is bundled over in the box. The ref takes his time to make the decision, but eventually points to the spot. Penalty to Chelsea... and it's Hazard to take it.

55’ – GOAL!MK Dons1-4Chelsea: Eden Hazard's goal drought is finally over. He's been excellent today and he sends the keeper the wrong way from the spot to add some gloss to his afternoon.

62’ – GOAL!MK Dons1-5Chelsea: It's five for Chelsea and the substitute Bertrand Traore has got it, slotting past Martin after good work by Hazard. It's a lovely finish from the youngster, who has looked lively since coming on.

This was the first ever competitive meeting between Chelsea and MK Dons.

Eden Hazard’s penalty was his first goal for Chelsea this season.

Oscar’s hat-trick was his first in four years at the club and Chelsea’s first since Diego Costa against Swansea in September 2014.

There have already been eight hat-tricks in the FA Cup this season – more than in the entirety of last year’s competition.

This was the first time that MK Dons have ever conceded five goals in an FA Cup game.

The difference between this performance and what we saw under Jose Mourinho earlier in the season was quite remarkable. The Blues are on a lengthy unbeaten run now and, even though a league revival is beyond them, a cup run and a Champions League challenge are not out of the question by any means. This is a squad packed full of quality and they are back in the mood. That is a damning indictment of their attitude and application under Mou, but moving forward the signs are promising for Chelsea.

Oscar (Chelsea) – There were a number of very impressive performers for Chelsea, but nobody was more influential than Oscar. The Brazilian’s third goal was probably the pick of the game, but he could have had five or six before half-time, such was his dominance in the final third. Diego Costa took one off his toe when the goal was gaping early on and he shot narrowly wide on more than one occasion when well-placed. He’s a class act and in this sort of form he’ll be unlucky to not be regular starter in Hiddink’s side.

MK Dons: Martin 9; Spence 4, McFadzean 5, Walsh 5, Lewington 5; Potter 6, Forster-Caskey 6, Carruthers 8, Hall 6, Murphy 5; Bowditch 5. Subs: Williams 5, Maynard 5, Powell 5.

Chelsea: Courtois 7; Ivanovic 7, Cahill 8, Terry 6, Baba 7; Matic 6, Fabregas 8; Oscar 9, Loftus-Cheek 7, Hazard 8; Costa 8. Subs: Traore 8, Willian 7, Pedro 6.