In the quarter-finals of the English League Cup, Chelsea secured a 3–1 away victory over League One side Cardiff City to book their place in the semi-finals. Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho was the standout performer, scoring twice after coming on as a substitute and proving to be the decisive figure in the match.
Cardiff City holds the Upper Hand in the First Half
As the only non-Premier League team among the last eight, Cardiff City delivered an impressive performance. They were powerful in the first half, holding a high share of possession and coming close to taking the lead on several occasions.
Chelsea Struggle Before the Break, Maresca Makes Bold Changes
Chelsea, by contrast, looked flat in the opening half. Their attacking tempo was slow and lacked urgency. After the interval, head coach Enzo Maresca reacted decisively, introducing João Pedro and Garnacho in an effort to inject more attacking threat.
Garnacho Breaks the Deadlock
In the 57th minute, Bonanotte won the ball in midfield and surged forward before delivering a precise assist. Garnacho kept his composure and finished calmly to give Chelsea the lead.
Cardiff City, however, refused to give in. In the 75th minute, Singaporean defender Huang Tianxi delivered a high-quality cross from the right flank, which Turnbull converted with a powerful header to make it 1–1, igniting the home crowd.
Neto Scores as Garnacho Seals the Win
At a crucial moment, Chelsea once again showed the quality expected of a Premier League side. In the 82nd minute, Neto struck a low shot from outside the box, sending the ball skimming into the corner to restore Chelsea’s lead. Deep into stoppage time, Garnacho struck again to complete his brace and secure the victory.
This marks Chelsea’s third semi-final appearance in the past 18 months, following success in the Club World Cup and the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Nevertheless, this win was only their second victory in the last six matches across all competitions. Recent defeats to Atalanta and Leeds United had placed Maresca under considerable pressure.
Maresca Thanks Fans for Their Support
After the match, Maresca said the team improved significantly following the second-half substitutions. He also stressed that there are no easy games in modern football.
During the match, Chelsea fans repeatedly chanted his name, a gesture that deeply moved the head coach, who expressed his gratitude for their unwavering support.
Other Quarter-Final Ties Full of Intrigue
The remaining League Cup quarter-final fixtures see Manchester City face Brentford, Newcastle United take on Fulham, and Arsenal meet Crystal Palace, with the battle for semi-final places promising plenty of excitement.
