Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto emerged from the bench to help Chelsea survive a scare and win 3-1 against Cardiff City and qualify for the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Manager, Enzo Maresca, had fielded an entirely different Chelsea team to the one that discomfited Everton at the weekend but had to look to his bench as the League One opposition proved very hard to bend.
Following a first 45 minutes without a goal, Garnacho opened the scoring in the 57th minute, but, Cardiff City levelled through David Turnbull in the 75th minute with a beautiful header.
Moses Caicedo made his way back after serving a three-game domestic ban; Joao Pedro, Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto and Garnacho were on the bench.
The Blues started to press after Maresca brought on Garnacho and Pedro, and Chelsea’s second came through Neto in the 82nd minute.
Garnacho wrapped up the tie for Chelsea with the third in the 3rd minute of additional time.
Chelsea headed into the game as fourth-placed on the Premier League table while Cardiff City 1st on League One table.
Photo: Pedro Neto celebrates goal for Chelsea against Cardiff City with teammates, Joao Pedro and Alejandro Garnacho
