Goalkeeper & Defence
Filip Jorgensen (7/10):
Made a superb reflex save in the 34th minute, a deflected shot looked bound for the bottom corner, but he managed to stick out a hand and direct the ball around the post. Was reliable whenver called into action.
Jorrel Hato (7/10):
A reasonably steady evening, stepped out of defence with confidence on occasion, too. Solid performance.
Benoit Badiashile (6/10):
Gave the ball away for a chance in the 43rd minute, seemed to panic and was robbed far too easily. Like much of the Chelsea side, his second-half performance was much improved.
Tosin Adarabioyo (7/10):
Generally composed when called into action, barely put a foot wrong all night.
Josh Acheampong (6/10):
Had a very busy evening on the right of Chelsea's defence as Cardiff poured everything down their left-hand side. He was found wanting a couple of times and looked shaky. Hooked off with a few minutes to go.
Midfield
Midfield
Andrey Santos (7/10):
A busy evening and showed some decent touches and was kept under constant pressure from the Cardiff midfield. Made a goal-denying save in time added on.
Moises Caicedo (7/10):
Captain for the evening and covered his usual acres space, snapping into tackles, but was booked needlessly in the final stages of the first half.
Facundo Buonanotte (6/10):
Had been having a poor evening, struggling with his final pass on a couple of occassions, but showed composure to capitalise on a stray pass to play in Garnacho for the opener. And fired just high over the bar in the 60th minute with a fierce drive. Subbed off just after the hour, replaced by Gusto.
Attack
Attack
Jamie Gittens (6/10):
Moved across to right-hand side at the start of the second-half, but made little impact on the match all evening, was hooked off in the 66th minute for Neto.
Marc Guiu (5/10):
Wasn't an easy night in the early stages, but came very close to opening the scoring on the half hour. His low drive was well saved by Trott. A frustrating half as he was given very little to work with. Subbed off at half-time, replaced by Joao Pedro.
Tyrique George (5/10):
A non-existent presence in the first-half as Chelsea laboured to create any opportunities and was hauled off at half-time, replaced by Garnacho.
Subs & Manager
Subs & Manager
Joao Pedro (7/10):
Given the nod by Maresca at the break and brought on in place of Guiu, a constant thorn in Cardiff's side.
Alejandro Garnacho (8/10):
Came on a second-half replacement for George and made an instant impact, seeing a close range drive well-saved by Trott. Stayed calm to take his chance and fire low past the Cardiff keeper for the opener and showed excellent composure to score the decider in time added on.
Malo Gusto (6/10):
Enjoyed a few touches after coming on, but wasn't the determining factor in Chelsea's win.
Pedro Neto (8/10):
A busy presence in the final third, and was there with eight minutes on the clock to fire a clean, low drive taking a deflection off Bagan's legs and into the far corner to retore the Blues' lead.
Trevoh Chalobah (N/A):
Only introduced with a few minutes to go.
Enzo Maresca (7/10):
Mixed emotions on a night where his second string team struggled to compete with a League One side, but his substitutions made the all the difference. He will allow himself a sigh of relief, and can start planning for the semi-finals.
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