Cardiff City vs Chelsea FC narrowly avoided a major upset at the Cardiff City Stadium, securing a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Cardiff City to advance to the EFL Cup semi-finals.
Despite being heavy favourites, the Blues were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw in the first half by a resilient Cardiff side that currently sits at the top of League One.
It took a rescued second-half effort and the introduction of “big hitters” from the bench to finally break the deadlock and silence the passionate home crowd.
The Cardiff city vs Chelsea match was a classic “game of two halves,” where the tactical intervention of Enzo Maresca proved decisive.
The final Chelsea score of 3-1 perhaps flatters the visitors, who were forced to work incredibly hard to overcome the “Bluebirds” in this high-stakes League Cup quarter-final.
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Cardiff City vs Chelsea: Super Subs Change the Game
The cardiff v chelsea encounter began with a completely rotated chelsea f.c. side, as Maresca made 11 changes from his previous Premier League outing.
This lack of cohesion was evident in a woeful first half where Cardiff City looked the more threatening side.
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Players like Callum Robinson and Isaak Davies tested the Chelsea defence, while David Turnbull controlled the tempo in midfield for the hosts.
- Half-Time Changes: Realising the danger of an exit, Maresca introduced Alejandro Garnacho and João Pedro at the break.
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- The Breakthrough: The impact was immediate.
In the 57th minute, Facundo Buonanotte pounced on a defensive error from Cardiff’s Dylan Lawlor and squared the ball to Alejandro Garnacho, who side-footed home his first goal of the night.
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- Cardiff’s Fightback: Despite falling behind, Cardiff city fc refused to buckle.
In the 75th minute, the stadium erupted when David Turnbull met Perry Ng’s cross with a magnificent diving header to level the game at 1-1.
For a moment, it appeared a massive Carabao Cup upset was on the cards.
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Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto Seal the Win
The parity lasted only seven minutes before Chelsea’s superior depth told.
Another substitute, Pedro Neto, found space in the box and fired a low drive into the bottom corner in the 82nd minute to restore the lead.
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As Cardiff pushed forward in desperate search of another equaliser, they were caught on the break.
In stoppage time, Alejandro Garnacho capped off a Man of the Match performance by latching onto a João Pedro lob and clinically finishing to make it 3-1.
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The Cardiff score remained at one, but the performance of the League One side earned them a standing ovation at full time.
Cardiff City vs Chelsea F.C. Stats and Lineups
The Cardiff City vs Chelsea f.c. stats tell a story of Chelsea’s eventual dominance but highlight the struggle they faced:
| Statistic | Cardiff City | Chelsea FC |
| Possession | 46% | 54% |
| Total Shots | 10 | 20 |
| Shots on Target | 4 | 7 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 0.58 | 2.57 |
The Cardiff City vs Chelsea f.c. lineups showed Maresca’s willingness to gamble, starting with youth like Josh Acheampong and Tyrique George.
However, it was the experienced core of Alejandro Garnacho, Pedro Neto, and Moises Caicedo (who returned from a three-game ban) that ultimately secured passage to the semi-finals.
For those wondering where to watch chelsea vs cardiff or looking for cardiff v chelsea tv coverage, the game was a highlight of the Sky Sports Football schedule, delivering the drama that only the League Cup can provide. While Cardiff exit the competition, they do so with their heads held high, having pushed one of the world’s most expensive squads to the very limit.
