Late goals clinch semi-final place for Chelsea
Cardiff 1Turnbull (75′)
Chelsea 3Garnacho (57′, 90’+3)
Neto (82′)
Late goals from Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho took Chelsea through to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
The Blues looked in control after taking the lead through Garnacho’s first goal of the night, on the hour mark, but their League One opposition hit back with a brilliant equaliser to ensure a nervy finish.
A smart finish from Neto put Chelsea back in front, and Garnacho scored his second of the game in added time to spare any blushes on a night that boss Enzo Maresca changed his entire XI.
The visitors’ best chance of the first half came after 30 minutes, when Moises Caicedo slid a ball into Marc Guiu. He drilled a decent shot at goal from a tight angle, but Nathan Trott saved well.
Isaak Davies had a handful of early chances for Cardiff, who looked comfortable playing a possession game of their own and matching Chelsea’s style.
The Wales international first shanked an effort wide after the ball was played over Josh Acheampong’s head. He then beat the teenage defender again on the edge of the box, and his deflected shot was tipped around the post by a retreating Filip Jorgensen.
Maresca made changes at the break, with Joao Pedro and Garnacho both introduced.
The latter made an immediate impact and was first denied from close range by Trott, before the Blues were gifted their opener as they ramped up the pressure.
Facundo Buonanotte cut out a poor pass from Cardiff defender Dylan Lawlor, and found himself clean through on goal. He slipped in Garnacho to his left, who found the opposite corner of the net.
Buonanotte nearly doubled the lead moments later with a fantastic curling effort that was tipped over the bar.
The hosts, though, remained a threat and equalised with 15 minutes to play. Perry Ng curled an inviting cross into the box, and David Turnbull buried a fantastic, flying header past Jorgensen.
But Chelsea retook the lead late on after some smart play in a tight area around the box.
Pedro did well to hold the ball up and played it across to fellow substitute Neto, whose low shot found the bottom corner with a slight deflection off Joel Bagan’s leg.
Garnacho then wrapped up the win to send Chelsea into the last four with another tidy finish in injury time as Cardiff committed players forward in an attempt to find another equaliser.
Chelsea: Jorgensen, Acheampong (Chalobah 84), Tosin, Badiashile, Hato, Andrey Santos, Caicedo, George (Garnacho 45), Buonanotte (Gusto 65), Gittens (Neto 65), Guiu (Pedro 45).
Subs not used: Sanchez, James, Fofana, Fernandez.
