Kylian Kouassi scores two and sets up another as Cambridge cruise past Chester

A Kylian Kouassi double helped ensure League Two Cambridge avoided an FA Cup first-round shock with a comfortable 3-0 win over non-league Chester.

Striker Kouassi tapped in from close range following a free-kick in the 10th minute to settle any nerves for the U’s, who went on to dominate the first half against their National League North opponents.

Kouassi latched on to James Brophy’s deflected through ball to power in his second from the narrowest of angles in the 35th minute.

And the duo reversed roles in first-half stoppage time, with Kouassi squaring neatly for Brophy, who cut inside and shot into the top corner.

Backed by 1,231 traveling fans, Chester gave it a go in the second half, with the lively Patrick Jones stinging the hands of Cambridge goalkeeper Jake Eastwood with a low shot.

The closest they came to a goal was in the 62nd minute, when substitute Dion Kelly-Evans found Jack Bainbridge, whose first-time effort was tipped over the crossbar by Eastwood.

Cambridge could have added further goals in the closing stages, but substitute Glenn McConnell’s strike was well saved by George Murray-Jones in the Chester goal, and a shot from Elias Kachunga was blocked on the line.