Chelsea were made to work hard for their 2-1 victory over Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup, as Enzo Maresca’s side avoided a shock exit with a second-half comeback at Sincil Bank.
The Blues were far from their best in a frustrating first half, conceding a goal before the break that left travelling supporters anxious. Lincoln’s intensity and aggressive pressing unsettled Chelsea, who once again looked short of ideas in the final third.
Whatever Maresca said at half-time clearly worked, as Chelsea responded with two quickfire goals shortly after the restart. Academy product Tarique George netted the equaliser, before summer signing Facundo Buonanotte scored what proved to be the winner, completing the turnaround and booking Chelsea’s place in the fourth round.
Despite the win, many supporters questioned why the Blues struggled so much against a League One opponent. Speaking to the BBC after the match, full-back Malo Gusto offered an honest explanation:
“I’ve never seen football like this in my life. Their style of play, that’s their strength, their quality. They were genuinely trying to win the match. So we had to accept that, but I think we did well today.”
Gusto was one of Chelsea’s standout performers on the night, delivering a much-improved display after a difficult run of form in recent weeks. His defensive solidity and composure in possession were crucial to keeping Lincoln from adding to their lead before Chelsea mounted their comeback.
Chelsea will hope the win injects some much-needed confidence into the squad, as they prepare to face Brighton in the Premier League this weekend. Maresca will also be encouraged by the impact of younger players like George and Buonanotte, both of whom could play an increasingly important role as the season progresses.
