Cardiff City 1-3 Chelsea LIVE – Garnacho double sends Blues to semi-finals

“I think, again, we’re going in the right direction. Anything I do is just because I want the best for this club, for the fans, for everyone.

On his comments about not feeling supported: “Tonight, I think the focus has to be on reaching the semi-final.

“The support from the fans since day one I think has always been there, knowing that sometimes when you don’t win games it’s normal that they are not happy, but no one is happy.

“But overall tonight I think the focus tonight has to be on that we won and we are in the semi final.”

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca speaking to Sky Sports: “Football is full of these tricky games so you have to pay attention. We did a good game.

“I think there was a big difference between first half and second half, the way we attacked also. Cardiff were very good, organised, they were very intense off the ball so it was difficult.

“But in the end I think we did enough to win the game.”

Alejandro Garnacho on his super sub performance this evening: “Sometimes you start games and sometimes you have to help from the bench. We don’t focus on this. We just try to help the team.”

Pedro Neto speaking to Sky Sports after being asked how big of an opportunity the Carabao Cup is: “We are always confident. We are Chelsea and we want to win trophies. That is our mindset for all the games.”

Full time at the Cardiff City Stadium and Chelsea are through to the Carabao Cup semi-finals!

It’s safe to say the scoreline flatters the Blues’ performance, but Enzo Maresca’s side got the job done.

Game, set and match.

Alejandro Garnacho seals Chelsea’s passage to the Carabao Cup semi-final with a well placed finished into the bottom right corner.

Joao Pedro does well to control the ball with his head and fend off his defend, but his shot goes just over the bar.

That would’ve been it for Chelsea.

At least six minutes will be added on.

Perry Ng is replaced by Will Fish.

Chelsea have hushed the Cardiff attacks, now they’re taking control of the game.

Josh Acheampong is replaced by Trevoh Chalobah.

Chelsea might have snatched the win with just under ten minutes remaining!

The Blues start crowding the Cardiff box before the ball lands to the feet of Pedro Neto, who smashes low and hard into the bottom left corner to give Chelsea the lead again.

Another chance for Cardiff who are getting in behind the Chelsea defence. Once again Jorgensen claims.

Joel Colwill is replaced by Alex Robertson.

Cardiff almost hand Chelsea a goal as a wayward pass across goal is intercepted by Pedro Neto and crossed into Joao Pedro, but Trott bravely comes out to deny the Brazilian, injuring himself in the process.

It’s been coming, back Cardiff City are level!

David Turnbull superbly gets his head onto a Cardiff cross and it flies past Jorgensen and into the Chelsea net.

Chelsea take their time to get the ball into a dangerous position after a short corner, before Caicedo lays the ball to Andrey Santos to fire narrowly wide of the post via a deflection.

Cardiff are back to playing some lovely football. The Bluebirds just carved through Chelsea with simple one touch football, but Chris Willock’s cross was easy for Jorgensen to claim.

Jamie Gittens and Facundo Buonanotte are replaced by Pedro Neto and Malo Gusto.

Chelsea have taken the foot off the gas again and Cardiff are coming for them.

Trott denies Chelsea a second after finger-tipping Buonanotte’s curling effort from the edge of the box over the bar.

Breakthrough for Chelsea!

Cardiff lose the ball in the midfield and Facundo Buonanotte runs towards goal, before playing in Alejandro Garnacho to lift the ball over Nathan Trott to give Chelsea the lead!

Callum Robinson is replaced by Yousef Salech.

Isaak Davies is replaced by Chris Willock.

Fantastic save by Nathan Trott to deny Alejandro Garnacho from close range.

The subsequent corner is well cleared by Cardiff.