Cardiff City 1-3 Chelsea: Bluebirds bow out of Carabao Cup after Garnacho double

Cardiff City bowed out of the Carabao Cup at the quarter-final stage but left the Cardiff City Stadium with heads held high after pushing Chelsea all the way in a thrilling 3-1 defeat under the lights.

For long spells, Brian Barry-Murphy’s side matched, and at times outplayed, their Premier League visitors, only for quality off the bench to ultimately swing the contest Chelsea’s way, with Alejandro Garnacho netting two second-half goals for the visitors.

Against a Blues side boasting a bench valued north of £380m, Cardiff delivered a performance full of bravery, energy and belief, one that had the home crowd dreaming of a famous night before two moments of class and a slice of fortune ended those hopes.

The atmosphere crackled from the outset, Men of Harlech ringing around the CCS as Cardiff showed no intention of simply admiring the occasion. In the opening exchanges, Cian Ashford and Isaak Davies set the tone, pressing aggressively and carrying a real threat on the break.

Chelsea had plenty of possession but found Cardiff stubborn and organised. Nathan Trott was called into action on 31 minutes, sharply saving Marc Guiu’s low effort with his feet after the striker had been slipped in down the channel. At the other end, Filip Jorgensen was equally busy, tipping behind a dangerous deflected cross from Davies and then keeping out David Turnbull’s rasping strike after a Chelsea mix-up.

Turnbull, given the nod in midfield, was superb throughout, dictating play and knitting attacks together, and he almost capped a fine first-half display with a goal, only to drag his left-footed effort wide from the edge of the area.

The goalless first half felt anything but dull and Chelsea signalled their intent at the break, introducing