Cardiff v Chelsea – Bluebirds lose 3-1 to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup Quarter-Finals.
0-0 at the break – a stubborn Cardiff forced Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, to bring on Second-half super subs to break the deadlock.
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Chelsea went ahead just before the hour with Alejandro Garnacho punishing a Dylan Lawlor mistake, before a David Turnbull 75th-minute header levelled the scores.
Late goals from Garnacho and Pedro Neto see the visitors into the semi-finals.
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33,000 fans packed Cardiff City Stadium for the League One leaders’ mouth-watering cup quarter-final tie against Club World Cup champions, Chelsea.
Cardiff fans’ pre-match rendition of Men of Harlech and Hey Jude echoed around a floodlit stadium in hair-raising fashion.
Maresco underestimated a young Cardiff City squad – leaving £400m worth of players on the bench at kick-off.
The Bluebirds pressed Chelsea and put bodies on the line – frustrating the Premier League outfit in the first half.
City made things uncomfortable for the Blues and even had a chance to go ahead after 23 minutes.
Joel Bagan’s panicked shot from inside the box went out for a throw in the end.
Not a shot on target in the first half-hour from Chelsea a testament to the work-rate of Cardiff City.
half-time: cardiff 0-0 chelsea
Chelsea brought on Garnacho and Joao Pedro after the break – testament to the Bluebirds’ efforts.
Just before the hour, the Blues upped the intensity, putting pressure on the home team.
Minutes later, Lawlor’s intercepted pass gifted substitute Garnacho his first goal of the game.
A fine fingertip save from Nathan Trott denied Chelsea a quick-fire second.
Surviving the intensity, Cardiff began to push for the equaliser, showing more bravery to deny Chelsea advances.
The Bluebirds’ breakthrough came in the 75th minute, as the Cardiff City Stadium erupted.
Yousef Saleh, who replaced Callum Robinson, sent a cross into the box which Turnbull expertly guided home with his head.
A raucous home crowd turned up the noise as a rejuvenated Cardiff continued to press.
Both keepers put in a real shift to keep the scores level, creeping into the final 10 minutes of normal time.
Neto, who replaced Jamie Gittens, broke Cardiff hearts with a deflected shot finding the bottom left corner.
The Bluebirds never gave up, attacking Chelsea in search of the late equaliser, with Turnbull’s volley bouncing just over.
A late equaliser, and penalties, wasn’t to be as Garnacho sealed a 3-1 Chelsea victory in added time.
Cardiff were caught on the counter and the Argentine wrapped things up with his second, off the bench.
Chelsea march onto the semi-final, while all Bluebird eyes return to remaining top of League One and gaining instant promotion back to The Championship.
Manchester City host Brentford, Newcastle play Fulham and Arsenal take on Crystal Palace for a chance to book their place in the semi-finals.
The draw takes place on Wednesday, December 17 with the first leg of the semis scheduled for the week commencing January 12.
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