Chelsea navigated a testing night in South Wales to book a place in the EFL Cup semi-finals, overcoming a bold Cardiff City side in an engrossing contest at Cardiff City Stadium.
Chelsea navigated a testing night in South Wales to book a place in the EFL Cup semi-finals, overcoming a bold Cardiff City side in an engrossing contest at Cardiff City Stadium.
Driven on by a sell-out crowd, the League One leaders matched their Premier League visitors for long periods, defending with intensity and offering flashes of threat before the break, which ended without a goal.
Enzo Maresca rotated his entire starting XI following the weekend league win over Everton, a match that had been followed by his remark describing the previous two days as the most difficult of his spell in charge.
That context hung over an underwhelming opening 45 minutes from the holders of the Club World Cup, who struggled to impose themselves against organized and confident opposition.
Unhappy with the first-half showing, Maresca acted at the interval by introducing Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro, a move that quickly altered the rhythm of the match.
Chelsea’s breakthrough arrived when Cardiff defender Dylan Lawlor misplaced possession, allowing Facundo Buonanotte to release Garnacho, who finished decisively to open the scoring.
The advantage did not last long. Cardiff responded with renewed belief and was rewarded when Perry Ng delivered a precise cross that David Turnbull met with an excellent header, igniting the home support.
Momentum briefly favored the hosts, but Chelsea steadied themselves and reclaimed the lead through Pedro Neto, whose low strike found the corner after a slight deflection off Joel Bagan.
As Cardiff pushed for another equalizer, space opened up in added time, and Garnacho struck again to confirm the visitors’ progress and bring the tie to a close.
The final moments dulled the noise inside the stadium, yet the performance of the Welsh side drew warm applause, reflecting pride rather than disappointment among the supporters.
For Chelsea, the scoreline ensured advancement despite an uneven display, offering some relief after a turbulent few days for their head coach.
The London club will learn their semi-final opponents when the draw takes place on Wednesday, while Cardiff refocuses on their push for an immediate return to the Championship.
