Sports
Blues progress to EFL Cup semi-final after victory over plucky hosts
It was a far from straightforward evening for the Premier League side in the Welsh capital
Chelsea progressed to the semi-final of the EFL Cup after a narrow 2-1 victory against League One side Cardiff City in the Welsh capital.
Substitutes Alejandro Garnacho, who bagged a brace, and Pedro Neto found the net for a much-changed Blues side, but they were made to work for the win against a spirited Cardiff outfit, who were the only team from outside the Premier League left in the competition.
Scotland international David Turnbull had levelled for the hosts but their impressive performance could not yield a cup upset and Enzo Maresca’s side marched on to the last four.
On a night when the League One leaders more than stood up to the task, Isaak Davies had the first real chance of the game, slicing an effort wide after being played through down the left-hand side.
The step three high-flyers were resolute in their playing philosophy, sticking bravely to an ethos of playing out from the back, seemingly unfazed by the calibre of opposition.
And they went even closer to taking the lead shortly after the half-hour mark, with Filip Jorgensen doing well to keep out a deflected low cross that appeared goal-bound before the Danish stopper again saved from ex-Arsenal man Calum Chambers’ header.
By contrast, a youthful Chelsea outfit showed little sign of attacking intent; the speedy Tyrique George providing perhaps the biggest threat for Maresca’s men but they failed to carve out any clear-cut opportunities.
Maresca introduced a couple of big-hitters at half-time, with Joao Pedro and Garnacho coming on in a bid to liven things up for the visitors.
And it nearly worked instantly, Garnacho ghosting in from Facundo Buonanotte’s neat pass eight minutes after the restart, but the substitute was thwarted by Trott.
Garnacho, however, would not be denied for long. Three minutes later, teenage defender Dylan Lawlor gave the ball straight to Buonanotte and the Argentine punished error, driving towards goal before laying off to his compatriot, who finished well from a narrow angle.
The momentum had suddenly shifted. The increasingly influential Buonanotte curled an effort towards the top corner that Trott did superbly to tip over.
But with just over a quarter of an hour remaining, Turnbull brought Cardiff level when he headed home from a wicked Perry Ng delivery.
Just when it looked like the hosts might cause an almighty upset, the Chelsea regained the advantage when another substitute, Neto, arrowed a shot that nestled in the bottom corner.
Garnacho added to his tally in stoppage time to add sheen to what was a far from straightforward evening for the Londoners against their plucky lower league opposition.
