Chelsea mounted a second-half comeback to eliminate League One side Lincoln City from the Carabao Cup, ending any hopes of a shock result at LNER Stadium. The Blues found themselves 1-0 down at the break after a spirited first-half display by Lincoln, but two quick goals early in the second half secured their passage into the next round.
Lincoln, known for their aerial prowess and set-piece threat, came out firing in the first half. Chelsea, despite making eight changes to their lineup, appeared unprepared for the physicality of their League One opponents. Lincoln’s game plan focused on long balls and throw-ins, putting Chelsea’s defense under pressure from the outset. The breakthrough came in the 45th minute when Rob Street capitalized on a loose ball following a poor clearance from the Chelsea defense. Street coolly slotted home to give Lincoln a deserved lead.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, frustrated by his side’s performance in the opening 45 minutes, admitted he had to get tough with his players during the break. “It’s about desire sometimes, and we struggled in the first half,” Maresca said. He emphasized the importance of these types of challenges for his young squad, saying, “We need these experiences for the next time we face a League One side.”
The Chelsea response was swift. Within five minutes of the restart, Tyrique George scored a brilliant strike from outside the box, firing the ball into the far corner of the net. The goal sparked Chelsea into life, and they doubled their lead shortly after when Facundo Buonanotte, on loan from Brighton, scored his first goal for the club, making it 2-1. Buonanotte’s well-taken finish capped a flowing move and restored Chelsea’s dominance.
Despite Lincoln’s valiant efforts, including forcing Chelsea to waste time as they tried to hold onto their lead, the game ended 2-1 in favor of the Premier League side. Lincoln head coach Michael Skubala praised his team’s effort, particularly their strong first-half performance, and expressed disappointment at not taking the game to penalties. “We could have had more than one goal in the first half,” Skubala reflected, “but Chelsea showed their class in the second half.”
The victory provides Chelsea with a much-needed confidence boost after their recent struggles, while Lincoln can hold their heads high after a performance that demonstrated their resilience and tactical discipline.
