Second-half brilliance from supersubs Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto guided Chelsea to a hard-fought 3–1 victory over League One leaders Cardiff City, sealing progression to the Carabao Cup semi-finals and extending the Blues’ impressive record to six straight quarter-final wins in the competition.
First Half: Cardiff Rise to the Occasion
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca rotated his entire starting XI after a tense build-up to the weekend, and the changes showed early on. Roared on by a sold-out Cardiff City Stadium, the hosts began confidently and carved out the first real opening when Isaak Davies raced onto Joel Bagan’s through ball in the 23rd minute, only to fire wide.
Despite the gulf in finances—Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo (£115m) alone costing more than Cardiff’s entire starting XI—the Bluebirds held their own. Cardiff keeper Nathan Trott denied Marc Guiu at close range after a clever pass from Caice. At the same time, the Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen was alert to tip Davies’ deflected cross onto the post.
At half-time, it remained goalless, with the underdogs earning plaudits for their fearless approach.
Second Half: Supersubs Change the Game
Maresca reacted decisively, introducing João Pedro and Alejandro Garnacho at the break—and the impact was immediate. Twelve minutes after the restart, a loose Cardiff pass was intercepted by Facundo Buonanotte, who teed up Garnacho to calmly find the far corner for his third goal of the season.
Cardiff refused to fold and were rewarded with 15 minutes remaining, as David Turnbull timed his run perfectly to meet Perry Ng’s cross, heading home his first goal in over a year. The equaliser sent the home crowd into raptures and marked the sixth time in seven home games that Cardiff had seen both teams score.
Neto and Garnacho Seal the Win
Just as momentum swung towards Cardiff, Chelsea struck again. Substitute Pedro Neto fired a low effort that deflected off Bagan and beyond Trott, restoring Chelsea’s lead and making Neto the club’s top scorer this season (six goals).
Deep into stoppage time, Garnacho capped a standout cameo with his second goal of the night, ensuring Chelsea avoided a classic cup upset and eliminated the only remaining non–Premier League side in the competition.
What It Means for Chelsea
The result offers welcome relief for Maresca and underlines Chelsea’s growing depth. With young talent and game-changing substitutes delivering in key moments, the Blues move one step closer to silverware, and confidence continues to build.
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