Chelsea’s Victory Over Lincoln City
Chelsea’s head coach Enzo Maresca did not shy away from admitting there was some heated discussion in the locker room during half-time as the club managed to turn the tide against Lincoln City, claiming a 2-1 victory in the Carabao Cup. The League One side, which currently sits third in their league, stunned the Club World Cup champions by taking the lead just before half-time. The goal came in the 42nd minute, capitalizing on a mistake by Enzo Fernandez, whose errant pass allowed Ryan Street to find the net.
First Half Struggles
Despite featuring a squad valued at nearly £400 million ($540 million) and including several star players, Chelsea struggled in the first half. Maresca retained three players from the previous Premier League loss to Manchester United but acknowledged that many on his team were unaccustomed to facing opponents from lower divisions, saying,
“I asked them how many times they had played against League One teams because you need to play a different kind of game. The desire is double from them.”
Second Half Comeback
The second half saw a marked improvement from Chelsea, with Tyrique George scoring shortly after the break, followed by the 19-year-old assisting Facundo Buonanotte, who netted his first goal for Chelsea, solidifying their slot in the next round. After the match, Maresca expressed confidence that the experience would benefit his players, particularly if they face similar opposition in the future:
“This has been a good experience.”
Notable Moments
In a notable moment, Alejandro Garnacho received his first start since a transfer from Manchester United, facing unexpected hostility from the Lincoln crowd, which booed him throughout the match. The Imps’ supporters passionately rallied behind their club as they pressured Chelsea, especially during set pieces, and the visitors’ goalkeeper, Filip Jorgensen, struggled at times, making his first start of the season in place of the suspended Robert Sánchez.
Reflecting on the match, Maresca stated,
“For Filip, it was the first game of the season, so not easy, but we won the game. I was very worried about this game.”
Meanwhile, Lincoln had reached this memorable clash after victories against Harrogate and Burton, marking their first encounter with Chelsea in 114 years. Despite their loss, head coach Michael Skubala expressed pride in his team’s performance, stating,
“I’m really proud of the overall performance but also frustrated because we think we could have got more out of the game as well. In the end, Chelsea’s quality showed in those five minutes where they scored twice.”
