Chelsea survived a spirited Cardiff City challenge before their £400m bench delivered a 3-1 victory in the Carabao Cup quarter-final at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday night. Alejandro Garnacho scored twice as substitutes after David Turnbull had briefly given the League One leaders hope of a famous upset.
Maresca's rotated XI struggles
Enzo Maresca made wholesale changes from the side that defeated Everton at the weekend, fielding an entirely different starting eleven. Moises Caicedo returned after serving a three-game domestic ban, but the Chelsea manager left his heavy artillery on the bench – Garnacho, Pedro Neto, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro among those in reserve.
The strategy nearly backfired. Cardiff, riding a five-match winning streak that had taken them four points clear at the top of League One, showed why they had already claimed one Premier League victim in this competition, having beaten Burnley in round three.
The Bluebirds' first full house since relegation from the Premier League in 2019 – 33,027 supporters packed into Cardiff City Stadium – created an atmosphere that unsettled Chelsea's second-string.
Cardiff threaten early
Brian Barry-Murphy's side showed their intent within seven minutes. Callum Robinson headed just over from a dangerous cross, and Isaak Davies forced a comfortable save from Filip Jorgensen. Davies had an even better opportunity after breaking clear from Joel Bagan's precise pass, but the Wales striker rushed his effort and the ball drifted wide.
Chelsea struggled to find fluency. It took 31 minutes for the visitors to muster their first meaningful attempt on goal. The starting XI – assembled at a fraction of the cost of those watching from the bench – lacked the quality to break down Cardiff's organised defensive structure.
Garnacho breaks the deadlock
With the game goalless at half-time, Maresca turned to his bench. The introductions of Garnacho and Neto transformed the contest. The Argentine, signed from Manchester United in the summer, needed just 12 minutes after his introduction to break the deadlock on 57 minutes.
The goal appeared to settle the tie, but Cardiff had other ideas.
Turnbull's moment of magic
David Turnbull, the Scotland international, produced a moment of quality to equalise on 75 minutes – his first goal in 13 months. Cardiff City Stadium erupted. The League One leaders sensed an upset was possible.
For eight minutes, the Bluebirds dreamed of a semi-final place. Their last victory against Chelsea had come in this competition way back in October 1986, and they pushed for a winner that would have ranked among the greatest cup shocks in recent memory.
Chelsea's bench proves decisive
But Chelsea's financial firepower ultimately told. Pedro Neto spared the Blues' blushes eight minutes from time, driving low past the Cardiff goalkeeper to restore the lead. And Garnacho sealed victory in stoppage time with his second of the night, completing a 3-1 scoreline that flattered the visitors.
Chelsea have now won 19 consecutive League Cup ties against teams from a lower division – a remarkable record that was tested to its limits in Wales.
Maresca's reaction
"I'm very happy, especially for the effort of the players," Maresca said afterwards. "Football is full of these tricky games so you have to pay attention and we did a good game. Off the ball, we were quite good. On the ball, we struggled a bit to create chances for many reasons.
"It was a big difference between the first half and second half, the way we attacked. Cardiff were very organised and intense. In the end, we did enough to win the game."
On reaching three semi-finals under his management: "We are going in the right direction. Anything I do is because I want the best for the club, for the fans, for everyone."
What's next
Chelsea now face a congested January schedule with nine matches across four competitions. The Carabao Cup semi-final draw will determine their next opponents in the competition, with ties to be played over two legs.
For Cardiff, the cup run ends, but Brian Barry-Murphy's side return to League One as clear favourites for promotion. Their performance against Premier League opposition demonstrated the quality that has taken them to the top of the third tier.
Cardiff City (4-1-4-1): Trott; Ng, Lawlor, Chambers, Bagan; Wintle; Ashford, Turnbull, J. Colwill, Davies; Robinson. Subs: Salech, Willock, Robertson, Fish.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Acheampong, Tosin, Badiashile, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; George, Buonanotte, Gittens; Guiu. Subs: Garnacho, Neto, Joao Pedro, Enzo Fernandez.
Goals: Garnacho 57', 90+3', Neto 82'; Turnbull 75'
Attendance: 33,027
