League Cup: Chelsea pass Cardiff’s third tier to reach the semi-finals

Chelsea booked their place in the League Cup semi-finals with a 3-1 win over third-tier Cardiff City on Tuesday, with the Premier League needing goals from substitutes Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto to put the plucky Welsh club away.

The hosts were the only non-Premier League team left in the competition, but they more than held their own against the Club World Cup winner, who were forced to the bench to beat the League One leaders.

Cardiff were the better team in the first half, enjoying plenty of possession early on and came closest to a goal through a deflected cross from Isaak Davies, which forced Chelsea keeper Filip Jorgensen into a reaction at his near post.

Chelsea were in no hurry and struggled to get behind Cardiff, who were very disciplined without the ball, and the raucous crowd at the sold-out Cardiff City Stadium cheered every challenge and approval from the home side.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca named a completely changed starting XI from the side that beat Everton 2-0 on Saturday, and after a disappointing opening half he sent on Joao Pedro and Garnacho for the second half.

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Garnacho had the first chance after the break when Cardiff keeper Nathan Trott made a fine save from close range, but the substitute opened the scoring in the 57th minute as Chelsea took advantage of a poor pass from the back.

Facundo Buonanotte collected possession, drove forward into the area and fed Garnacho who slid his shot past Trott. Chelsea looked for the killer second goal and Trott tipped over Buonanotte’s goal from a distance.

The game seemed to be slipping away from Cardiff before David Turnbull met Perry Ng’s cross in the penalty area and sent his header past Jorgensen with 15 minutes remaining.

Trott bravely dived at Pedro’s feet to deny the Chelsea man a tap-in, but the visitor regained the lead with eight minutes to go when Neto’s shot took a deflection on its way past the Cardiff keeper and Garnacho scored his second in added time.

Manchester City host Brentford and Newcastle United welcome Fulham in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, with Arsenal and Crystal Palace contesting the final match of the round next Tuesday.

Published on December 17, 2025