Chelsea were forced to dig deep in South Wales as second-half inspiration from Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto turned a potential upset into a 3-1 victory over Cardiff, sealing a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Enzo Maresca’s heavily rotated starting XI, packed with fringe players and youngsters, struggled to impose themselves in a raucous atmosphere against a confident Cardiff side flying high in League One. The hosts pressed aggressively, disrupted Chelsea’s rhythm and matched them stride for stride for long spells, underlining why this tie was anything but a formality.
Chelsea controlled possession without real penetration in the opening half, finding Cardiff compact, energetic and fearless. The hosts even enjoyed the better moments, snapping into challenges and asking questions of a Blues back line that lacked familiarity. Maresca’s gamble on rotation looked increasingly risky as the first half drifted towards stalemate.
Recognising the danger, the Chelsea boss acted decisively at the break, unleashing Garnacho and Neto from a bench that starkly illustrated the gulf in resources between the sides. The change was immediate. Chelsea played with greater urgency, sharper movement between the lines and far more threat in the final third.
The breakthrough arrived just before the hour mark when Garnacho pounced ruthlessly on a defensive error, showing composure beyond his years to finish clinically and silence the home crowd. It should have settled Chelsea nerves, but Cardiff refused to wilt. Driven on by their supporters, they found an equaliser through David Turnbull, whose looping header sparked belief that a famous night might still be on the cards.
That belief was short-lived. Neto, brimming with confidence since his introduction, produced a moment of top-level quality to restore Chelsea’s advantage, gliding into space and finishing with authority to reassert control. From there, the visitors managed the game with greater maturity, stretching Cardiff and draining the intensity from the contest.
Deep into stoppage time, Garnacho struck again to remove any lingering doubt, racing clear and finishing calmly to cap an influential cameo that transformed the tie. The final scoreline flattered Chelsea slightly, but their superior depth and quality ultimately told.
For Cardiff, the defeat brought an end to a spirited cup run but little shame. Their organisation, intensity and bravery caused Chelsea real problems and earned admiration long after the final whistle. For Chelsea, progression keeps silverware hopes alive and underlines the growing importance of their attacking options from the bench as a demanding schedule looms.
The Blues now move into the semi-finals, where tougher tests await, but this night served as a reminder that even against lower-league opposition, complacency is swiftly punished — and quality, when introduced, must be decisive.
