Chelsea required a powerful intervention from their star-studded substitutes to avoid a major Carabao Cup upset, eventually overcoming a spirited Cardiff City 3-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium to book their place in the semi-finals. Two late goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto killed off the dreams of the League One leaders after David Turnbull had threatened to force extra time with a dramatic equaliser.
Maresca's Expensive Bench Makes The Difference
Facing the last remaining EFL club in the competition, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made a bold statement by changing his entire starting eleven from the weekend's Premier League victory over Everton. The move highlighted the squad's depth but initially backfired as a disjointed Blues side struggled for rhythm.
Cardiff, buoyed by a first full house since their 2019 Premier League relegation and a run of five straight wins, started brightly. Striker Isaak Davies missed two good early chances, while Filip Jorgensen in the Chelsea goal was forced into smart saves. It took the visitors 31 minutes to register their first attempt, a sign of their surprising lethargy.
The game-changing moment came at half-time when Maresca turned to a bench reportedly worth nearly £400 million. The introductions of Garnacho and Joao Pedro immediately increased Chelsea's intensity and attacking threat.
Garnacho Strikes Before Cardiff Fightback
The pressure told in the 57th minute. After Garnacho had earlier been denied by goalkeeper Nathan Trott, the Argentine winger made no mistake from close range. He pounced on a defensive error from Cardiff's Dylan Lawlor to slot home and finally break the deadlock.
Cardiff refused to surrender, however. With fifteen minutes remaining, David Turnbull connected perfectly with a Perry Ng cross to send a superb diving header past Jorgensen. It was the Scot's first goal in 13 months and sent the home crowd into raptures, renewing hopes of a famous victory against the five-time winners.
Late Show Seals Chelsea's Progression
The joy was short-lived. With eight minutes of normal time remaining, Chelsea's other major substitute, Pedro Neto, found space in the Cardiff area and drove a low shot past Trott to restore the Premier League side's lead. In stoppage time, Garnacho added a ruthless third to seal the victory, prompting a mass exodus of home supporters.
The result means Chelsea's dominance in this fixture continues, extending their winning run against Cardiff to six games. For the Bluebirds, their first victory over Chelsea since October 1986 remains elusive, but their performance earned immense credit. For Maresca and Chelsea, it was a case of job done, with the immense quality on the bench ultimately proving decisive in a tricky Carabao Cup quarter-final away tie.
