Lincoln City 1-2 Chelsea: Blues avoid cup upset as Tyrique George impresses | OneFootball

Chelsea were spared the blushes of an early League Cup exit at the hands of League One Lincoln City as teenager Tyrique George scored one and set up another to advance Enzo Maresca’s side into the fourth round.

As it happened

Lincoln boss Michael Skubala rested several players from the Imps’ 3-1 victory over Luton Town on the weekend, placing faith in those who got his side to this stage of the competition. He was rewarded in full during the first half as his Lincoln side deeply unsettled the Club World Champions. Their restless pressing and ariel bombardment (made somewhat fitting by the air raid siren that played during every Lincoln corner) led to a multitude of chances.

Lincoln centre half Lewis Montsma almost gave his side a shock early lead after his low effort cannoned off the post, a chance that came as a result of Chelsea failing to clear a long throw.

The Premier League visitors were shaken up early on, something that was epitomised by keeper Filip Jörgensen clattering into Wesley Fofana in the first half, leaving Chelsea’s hearts racing as their list of fit centre backs are growing fewer.

Chelsea’s goalkeeper was relentlessly targeted by the Lincoln City long balls as the Imps caused chaos throughout. Jörgensen, who was deputing for a suspended Robert Sánchez, looked increasingly uncomfortable in his own box. The 23-year-old also gifted Lincoln another golden opportunity when striker Freddie Draper looked to have taken advantage of a failed punch in the box, however his goal bound effort was blocked by teammate Sonny Bradley, bailing the Blues out of jail yet again.

While Maresca had rotated, his side still possessed more than enough quality to deal more damage to Lincoln in the first half than they did. It looked, bar a few moments of quality, that Lincoln looked the Premier League side if anything.

Chelsea’s poor start to the game was compounded when striker Rob Street pounced on a wayward Enzo Fernández pass to put the third tier side 1-0 up just before the break.

Maresca needed a response from his young but high-quality side to avoid a massive disappointment in a year where the Blues will be expected to compete for trophies. Despite all the Lincoln pressure, Chelsea’s superior quality shone through in the second half. Cobham graduate George levelled things up three minutes after the restart before assisting Facundo Buonanotte on the 50th minute to take the tie away from Lincoln’s grasp.

However, the side from the third tier didn’t let up, it took a lot more defensive concentration from Chelsea to keep Lincoln out. Jorrel Hato had to be alert to turn away a shot deflected off fellow defender Trevoh Chalobah from an almost certain equaliser late on.

Despite the pressure, the Blues held on to progress to the fourth round, after what was a very disappointing evening for the Premier League side, their relief of getting the result must now turn to concentration as the Blues have challenges in the league and Champions League to face.

The lineups

LIN: Jeacock; Darikwa, Montsma, Bradley, Towler, Haymer; House, McGrandles, Varfolomieiev; Street, Draper

CHE: Jörgensen; Gusto, Chalobah, Fofana, Hato; Andrey Santos, Fernández; Gittens, Buonanotte, Garnacho; George