Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho scored second-half goals to secure a 3-1 victory for Chelsea over Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup quarter-final, booking their place in the last four. Garnacho opened the scoring in the first half, only for David Turnbull to equalise with a diving header 15 minutes from time, setting up a tense finale at a sold-out Cardiff City Stadium.
Neto struck a late winner, drilling a low diagonal shot past Nathan Trott, before Garnacho added his second in stoppage time to ensure Chelsea avoided an upset against the League One side. The win was marred by a poor first-half display from a youthful Chelsea team that featured four teenagers, forcing manager Enzo Maresca to introduce Garnacho and Joao Pedro at the break.
Maresca, whose future had been questioned after cryptic comments following the win over Everton, acknowledged the challenge posed by Cardiff. “These are the kind of games that I fall in love even more with the players because you cannot imagine how easy it is to slip,” he said. He also confirmed he had not spoken with the club’s hierarchy since his remarks, adding that his focus was on preparing for the Premier League match against Newcastle.
Cardiff manager Brian Barry-Murphy, a former Manchester City colleague of Maresca, saw his side produce a spirited performance. Turnbull’s equaliser sparked wild celebrations among the home fans, but Cardiff could not hold on. Chelsea's supporters sang Maresca’s name in stoppage time, a gesture the Italian said he appreciated and was thankful for.
The victory means Chelsea will face Newcastle in the semi-finals, a prospect Maresca is already turning his attention to. “I will watch two Newcastle games,” he said. “There is no time. Time is for the players.”
