Chelsea continued their domestic cup run with a controlled 3-1 victory over third-tier Cardiff City, securing a place in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup. With a packed schedule ahead, head coach Enzo Maresca opted to rotate heavily, naming a youthful starting XI with an average age of just 21.

The opening 45 minutes were far from fluent for the Premier League side. Despite dominating possession, Chelsea struggled to break down a disciplined Cardiff City defence, and the teams went into the break goalless.

The turning point came after the restart. A tactical tweak from Maresca paid immediate dividends as Alejandro Garnacho broke the deadlock in the 57th minute, injecting pace and urgency into the game. Just when the favourites looked in control, Cardiff City stunned the home crowd by equalising on 75 minutes, briefly threatening a classic cup upset.

But class ultimately told. Pedro Neto restored Chelsea’s lead eight minutes from time, finishing off a slick attacking move, before Garnacho sealed the result deep into stoppage time (90+3), completing his brace and sending the Blues safely through.

2025-26, EFL Cup

Cardiff City - Chelsea 1:3 (0:0)
Goals: Garnacho, 57 (0:1); Turnbull D., 75 (1:1); Pedro Neto, 82 (1:2); Garnacho, 90 (1:3)

Cardiff City: Trott; Bagan; Chambers C.; Ng P. (Fish, 90); Lawlor D.; Wintle; Turnbull D.; Ashford; Colwill J. (Robertson A., 80); Davies I. (Willock C., 56); Robinson C. (Salech Y., 56)
Substitution: Willock C. (from 56); Salech Y. (from 56); Robertson A. (from 80); Fish (from 90)
Bench: Turner M.; Mafico; Giles; Nyakuhwa
Yellow Cards: Davies I. 16; Chambers C. 27

Chelsea: Jörgensen F.; Adarabioyo; Badiashile B.; Hato; Acheampong J. K. (Chalobah, 84); Andrey Santos; Caicedo M.; Bynoe-Gittens (Pedro Neto, 66); George (Garnacho, 46); Buonanotte (Gusto, 66); Guiu Marc (João Pedro, 46)
Substitution: Garnacho (from 46); João Pedro (from 46); Gusto (from 66); Pedro Neto (from 66); Chalobah (from 84)
Bench: Sanchez Ro.; James R.; Fofana W.; Fernandez E.
Yellow Cards: Caicedo M. 45