CARDIFF CITY 1-3 CHELSEA: Two goals from Alejandro Garnacho and one from Pedro Neto saw the Blues sneak through to the Carabao Cup semi-finals, as they edged their League One hosts
CARDIFF, WALES - DECEMBER 16: Alejandro Garnacho of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Cardiff City and Chelsea at Cardiff City Stadium on December 16, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Alejandro Garnacho came off the bench to open the scoring(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
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Chelsea are through to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup after surviving a scare from Cardiff City. The Premier League side needed late goals from Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho after David Turnbull had cancelled out Garnacho's opener.
A poor first half from a much-changed Chelsea XI prompted Enzo Maresca to shake things up once more at the break. Within 12 minutes of entering the fray, Garnacho opened the scoring thanks to a mistake in the Cardiff backline.
They looked comfortable until Cardiff conjured up an equaliser against the run of play. David Turnbull scored a flying header and set up a grandstand finish in the Welsh capital.
But Neto - also a substitute from a frustrated Maresca - broke the Bluebirds' hearts with an 82nd-minute goal, which was followed up by a late clincher from Garnacho. Brian Barry-Murphy's men put up a valiant effort but it wasn't enough.
Here are five talking points from Cardiff City Stadium.
1. Maresca's major overhaul
Rotation, rotation, rotation. Anyone familiar with Maresca's reign at Chelsea will know just how much the Blues boss like to change his starting line-up from game to game.
Maresca used the Conference League last season as a breeding ground for young talent and fringe players, and now it seems that's the Carabao Cup's role. Not a single player who started Saturday's 2-0 win at home to Everton was named in the starting XI here.
Moises Caicedo returned from his three-game ban to captain the side, as Marc Guiu lead the line. There was also a chance for Filip Jorgensen in goal.
Chelsea's Swedish-Danish goalkeeper #12 Filip Jorgensen takes a kick during the English League Cup quarter-final football match between Cardiff City and Chelsea at Cardiff City Stadium, in Cardiff, south Wales on December 16, 2025. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications.
Filip Jorgensen was one of 11 changes for Chelsea
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2. Cardiff intent forces half-time changes
If you hadn't watched the first half and saw Joao Pedro and Garnacho coming on at the break, you could guess exactly what was going through Maresca's mind: worry. Cardiff were excellent in the first half and it was difficult to tell who was the Premier League side and who was in League One.
The Bluebirds looked more dangerous than Chelsea during the opening 45 minutes, firing off six shots to their opponents' five and keeping Jorgensen busy. Cardiff also had confidence at the back, playing out from goalkeeper Nathan Trott and looking to build from deep - even if it made for some nervy moments.
Maresca had seen enough by half-tome, hauling two members of the Blues' attack off in Guiu and Tyrique George. Could the pair's futures be under the microscope in January?
Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca gestures on the touchline during the English League Cup quarter-final football match between Cardiff City and Chelsea at Cardiff City Stadium, in Cardiff, south Wales on December 16, 2025. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications.
Enzo Maresca had seen enough by half-time
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3. Garnacho gifted a goal
There was an immediate shift in Chelsea's performance after the interval, but it was when Cardiff looked at their most comfortable when they broke the deadlock. Looking for a pass with plenty of time on the ball, 19-year-old Dylan Lawlor played it straight to Facundo Buonanotte and set Chelsea on a three-v-two attack.
Buonanotte saw Garnacho sprinting beyond him on his left and played a perfectly weighted pass into his fellow Argentina international's path. Garnacho had a simple finish and did his trademark celebration in front of the away end.
It was almost 2-0 just minutes later, as the Blues smelt blood. Buonanotte picked up the scraps of a blocked Pedro shot, striking from range and forcing Trott into an excellent save.
CARDIFF, WALES - DECEMBER 16: Alejandro Garnacho of Chelsea scores his team's first goal past Nathan Trott of Cardiff City during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Cardiff City and Chelsea at Cardiff City Stadium on December 16, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Alejandro Garnacho punished a mistake from Dylan Lawlor
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4. Turnbull turns up with an equaliser
Chelsea faltered time after time while searching for a second goal and they were made to pay for their wastefulness. A rare jaunt forward resulted in Perry Ng picking up on a well-timed run from Turnbull, who headed brilliantly past Jorgensen after getting the wrong side of Malo Gusto.
Suddenly, Barry-Murphy's men were back in it, with only 15 minutes of normal time remaining. With no extra-time, it was now or never if you wanted to avoid penalties.
CARDIFF, WALES - DECEMBER 16: David Turnbull of Cardiff City scores his team's first goal during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Cardiff City and Chelsea at Cardiff City Stadium on December 16, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
David Turnbull equalised to set up a grandstand finish
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5. Neto breaks Bluebird hearts
Cardiff's celebrations didn't last long - eight minutes to be exact. Another Chelsea substitute, another Chelsea goal.
This time it was Neto who got on the scoresheet, producing a well-struck finish across Trott after patient build-up play from the Blues. Cardiff needed to respond quickly and the crowd were behind them.
As they pushed for another equaliser, Chelsea's Andrey Santos made a vital challenge inside his own box during the six minutes of stoppage time. Then the final goal came at the other end. Garnacho doubled up for the night, sealing a nervy win which sends Chelsea through to the last four of the cup.
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