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Chelsea booked their place in the EFL Cup semi-finals with a hard-fought win over League One leaders Cardiff City in south Wales.
Backed by a loud, sell-out crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium, the home side impressed in the first half. Cardiff defended well, stayed organised, and caused problems going forward as the opening 45 minutes ended goalless.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca made wholesale changes to his team following the weekend’s Premier League win over Everton. However, his side struggled to find rhythm early on, leading the Italian coach to make two substitutions at half-time.
One of those changes made an immediate impact. Alejandro Garnacho gave Chelsea the lead after Cardiff defender Dylan Lawlor lost possession near his own box.
Cardiff reacted positively and were quickly back on level terms. David Turnbull powered a header into the net from Perry Ng’s cross, sparking huge celebrations among the home fans.
The joy did not last long, as Chelsea regained the lead through substitute Pedro Neto. His low shot took a slight deflection before finding the back of the net.
Garnacho then sealed the win in stoppage time with his second goal of the night, ensuring Chelsea progressed to the last four.
Despite the defeat, Cardiff can take confidence from their performance against top-level opposition as they refocus on their push for promotion. For Chelsea, the result provides a boost after a challenging few days, even if the performance was not their best.
Chelsea will learn their semi-final opponents when the draw takes place on Wednesday.
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