A late strike from substitute Pedro Neto rescued Chelsea from potential humiliation and secured their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a nervy 2-1 victory over a spirited Cardiff City side.
Garnacho Breakthrough Before Cardiff Fightback
The Premier League giants, who made wholesale changes to their starting lineup, were given a stern test by the League One leaders at a sold-out Cardiff City Stadium. Alejandro Garnacho opened the scoring in the 66th minute, finishing neatly after a costly defensive error from Cardiff's young defender Dylan Lawlor gifted possession to Facundo Buonanotte.
For a while, it seemed that would be enough for Enzo Maresca's youthful Chelsea side, captained by Moisés Caicedo and featuring four teenagers. However, the Championship side refused to lie down. With just 15 minutes of normal time remaining, David Turnbull equalised with a sublime diving header, setting up a tense finale and threatening to extend a difficult period for Chelsea's manager.
Neto's Late Intervention Seals Semi-Final Spot
As the match edged towards a penalty shootout, Chelsea found a winner. In the closing stages, the ball was worked to Pedro Neto on the edge of the area, and the Portuguese winger struck a low, diagonal shot into the far corner to restore Chelsea's lead and relieve the palpable tension in the away dugout.
Garnacho added a second deep into stoppage time to seal the 2-1 victory, but it was Neto's goal that proved decisive. The win spares Chelsea significant embarrassment after a disjointed performance and avoids what would have been an awkward 48 hours for manager Enzo Maresca had his side been eliminated.
A Night of Nostalgia and Guardiola Connections
The quarter-final clash was a notable occasion for Cardiff, marking the first sell-out for a club match at their stadium since April 2019. The tie also featured a fascinating subplot of shared coaching philosophies. Both managers, Chelsea's Enzo Maresca and Cardiff's Brian Barry-Murphy, are considered proteges of Pep Guardiola.
Barry-Murphy, who admitted to being a "Guardiola obsessive," worked with the Catalan at Manchester City's academy and also knew Maresca and his assistant Danny Walker from their time at the club. This connection led to a warm embrace between the coaching staff before kick-off.
Chelsea, who rested key players like Cole Palmer, fielded a side with an average age of just 22, with Tosin Adarabioyo the only starter over 24. Cardiff, meanwhile, included five homegrown Welsh players in their lineup, showcasing the strong local core at the club.
The victory sees Chelsea progress to the last four of the Carabao Cup, but the performance against a determined Cardiff side will give Maresca much to ponder despite the positive result.
