Chelsea Edge Past Cardiff to Reach Carabao Cup Semi-Finals

Cardiff, Wales — Chelsea booked their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a gritty 3–1 win over Cardiff City on Tuesday night, as a late burst of energy from their youthful side helped ease the pressure on head coach Enzo Maresca. Despite dominating early proceedings, Chelsea were briefly unsettled in the second half when League One leaders Cardiff threatened to turn the tie on its head in front of a packed Cardiff City Stadium.

The visitors, who fielded four teenagers in the starting lineup and were led by captain Moisés Caicedo, struck early through Alejandro Garnacho. The goal came after Facundo Buonanotte capitalised on a loose pass from Cardiff’s young centre-back Dylan Lawlor before slipping a well-weighted pass into Garnacho’s path, allowing the winger to finish confidently into the far corner.

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However, Cardiff responded with determination. David Turnbull equalised with a diving header in the 75th minute, sparking loud celebrations from the home supporters and briefly reigniting questions about Chelsea’s defensive focus. The goal came from a well-delivered cross by Perry Ng, exploiting a rare lapse in Chelsea’s backline.

Chelsea, undeterred, restored their lead through Pedro Neto, whose low strike into the far corner was aided by a deflection from Cardiff defender Joel Bagan. The victory was sealed in stoppage time when Garnacho scored his second, ensuring Chelsea’s progression to the semi-finals.

Manager Enzo Maresca, speaking to Sky Sports after the match, praised his squad’s effort but acknowledged areas for improvement. “Off the ball we were good – on the ball we struggled to make chances. Second half, we were much better on the ball,” Maresca said. He also noted that Cardiff’s equaliser stemmed from “an isolated action” and admitted that his team could have defended better in that moment.

Maresca’s post-match comments come after a period of scrutiny following Chelsea’s 2–1 victory over Everton, where his cryptic remarks sparked speculation about his future at the club. Despite that, the Italian insisted he felt supported by both the fans and his players. “The support from fans has always been there. Overall tonight, the focus has to be that we won and we are in the semi-finals,” he said.

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Tactical changes played a key role in Chelsea’s turnaround. Maresca introduced Garnacho and João Pedro in the second half, replacing Tyrique George and Marc Guiu, which injected pace and creativity into the team. Buonanotte also impressed, providing both a goal assist and creating further scoring opportunities.

For Cardiff, the result was a disappointment but also a demonstration of resilience. Manager Brian Barry-Murphy, a former colleague of Maresca at Manchester City’s youth setup, expressed pride in his side’s performance, acknowledging the fine margins that often separate lower-league teams from Premier League opposition.

Chelsea now await the Carabao Cup semi-final draw, scheduled for Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, Maresca and his squad will turn their attention to the Premier League, where they face Newcastle United on Saturday. With a young squad gaining valuable experience in high-stakes matches, the Italian is seeking to blend development with results as Chelsea navigate a congested fixture schedule.

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The victory underscores Chelsea’s ability to navigate tricky cup fixtures despite heavy rotation, while also highlighting the challenges of relying on a youthful side in high-pressure encounters. For Maresca, the win provides breathing room but reinforces the need for consistency as the club targets success on multiple fronts this season.