Liam Delap 'Celebrates' Scoring For Chelsea Before Instantly Missing Open Goal

Chelsea striker Liam Delap briefly stopped to seemingly celebrate a goal during his side's FA Cup fourth round tie against Hull City - before immediately missing an open net.

Delap rushed to intercept an attempted long kick forward by Hull goalkeeper Dillon Phillips, with the ball ricocheting off the leg of the Chelsea forward.

It struck the crossbar and landed on the goal line - but crucially didn't cross it completely - before spinning backwards towards the left side of the penalty area.

Delap, though, briefly halted his run towards it to either appeal for or celebrate the goal, before turning his attentions to trying to score what appeared to be a simple tap-in.

But despite being presented with an open goal, the number nine instead took a touch inside and appeared to be caught in two minds over what to do next.

"Just put it in the net - goodness me!"

Alan Shearer couldn't believe Liam Delap started celebrating early here!🤯 pic.twitter.com/Vf2fl17jLV

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) February 13, 2026

He took another touch inside before attempting to shoot, but by the time he did so, Phillips had ran back across and managed to keep out his effort.

On co-commentary for BBC Sport, Alan Shearer said: "There he is there [Delap], closing down, he does really, really well.

"But he just sort of walks to it, ambles to it, takes his time... he's even having a look around.

"I'm thinking, 'Go on, get on the end of it, show some urgency'. Then he's having another look around again to put his arms in the air. Just put it in the net, and then there's no argument! Goodness me. What are you waiting for?"

Fortunately for Delap and Liam Rosenior's side, the forward did somewhat redeem himself on 40 minutes when he provided the assist for Pedro Neto to put the Blues ahead.

But he missed a golden opportunity to end a run of eight games without a goal in all competitions, having scored just three times in 29 matches since signing from Ipswich Town last summer.

Chelsea managed to secure a £30 million deal to sign the striker before the Club World Cup, which the Blues won under previous manager Enzo Maresca.