Chelsea advanced to the League Cup semi-finals after a 3-1 victory over Cardiff City, largely thanks to two goals from Alejandro Garnacho. The match saw a struggling first half for Chelsea's young squad, but the introduction of key substitutes after the break turned the tide.

In the first half, Chelsea struggled despite 59% possession, managing only one shot on target. Their youthful attack, comprising Marc Guiu, Tyrique George (19), Facundo Buonanotte (20), and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (21), found it challenging to penetrate the defense of the third-division club.

Alejandro Garnacho celebrates Chelsea's opening goal with Facundo Buonanotte, sitting on an advertising board during their 3-1 victory over Cardiff City in the League Cup quarter-finals on 16/12. Photo: ESPN

The turning point arrived after halftime when coach Enzo Maresca introduced Joao Pedro and Alejandro Garnacho. Just over 10 minutes after replacing Tyrique George, Garnacho broke the deadlock. Buonanotte dispossessed a Cardiff player in their half, then threaded a pass for Garnacho, who surged down the left wing and fired a one-touch diagonal shot past goalkeeper Nathan Trott.

Cardiff equalized in the 75th minute when left-back Perry Tian Hee Ng delivered a cross into the box. David Turnbull skillfully evaded the offside trap and headed the ball into the near corner. However, this proved to be Cardiff's only significant moment.

Chelsea regained the lead in the 82nd minute through Pedro Neto, another second-half substitute, who struck a low diagonal shot beyond Trott. In stoppage time, Garnacho extinguished Cardiff's hopes, bursting into the box and clinically curling a right-footed shot into the far corner to complete his brace and seal the 3-1 win.

Alejandro Garnacho jumps onto Pedro Neto, celebrating Chelsea's second goal. Photo: Reuters

This victory extends Chelsea's impressive record in the League Cup, having advanced in their last 19 matches against lower-division opponents. This achievement marks the second-longest streak for a top-flight English club in the competition's history.

The Blues have also reached the semi-finals of a domestic cup competition (FA Cup or League Cup) for 10 consecutive seasons, dating back to the 2016-2017 campaign. Notably, their only triumph during this period was the FA Cup in 2018.

Post-match, Garnacho emphasized that every player, regardless of whether they start or come off the bench, shares the goal of securing the best results for Chelsea. "I came on and tried to help the team," the Argentine forward stated. "As a collective, we are playing very well. Some games you have to start, some games you have to contribute from the bench. We don't worry too much about that; the important thing is to contribute to the team."

Meanwhile, Pedro Neto attributed the victory to the team's focus and collective desire. The Portuguese player noted that Chelsea approached the match with strong determination, knowing how to leverage individual talent to make a difference. "It was about focus and the will to win this match. We truly craved victory," Neto shared. "At Chelsea, you want to win trophies. The team's mentality is to try and win every game."

Hong Duy