Chelsea Survive Wolves Fightback to Win 4-3 and Reach Carabao Cup Quarter-Finals | OneFootball

First-Half Brilliance Puts Chelsea in Command

Chelsea appeared to be cruising into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after a blistering first-half display at Molineux. Goals from Andrey Santos, Tyrique George and Estevao Willian gave the Blues a commanding 3-0 lead, silencing the home crowd and deepening the unrest among Wolves supporters.

Santos opened the scoring after just five minutes, capitalising on a disastrous 30-yard backpass from Tolu Arokodare to slot home his first goal for the club. The second arrived soon after when Jamie Gittens crossed for Tyrique George to finish from close range, completing a superb team move.

Before the break, Estevao Willian made it three, lifting a clever lob over Jose Sa to cap a near-perfect half for Mauricio Pochettino’s heavily rotated side.

Wolves Fight Back Sparks Chaos at Molineux

The mood changed entirely after the restart as Wolves mounted a spirited comeback that transformed the atmosphere from toxic to electric. Hwang Hee-chan’s clever pass allowed Arokodare to make amends for his earlier mistake by firing past Filip Jorgensen.

Moments later, Yerson Mosquera’s long throw found its way to David Moller Wolfe, who volleyed in to make it 3-2 and breathe life into a previously demoralised Wolves side. The home fans, who had spent the first half chanting “We want Fosun out,” suddenly roared their team forward in search of an equaliser.

Pochettino Forced to Call on Senior Stars

With his side losing control, Pochettino turned to his regular starters, bringing on Enzo Fernandez, Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo and Pedro Neto to stabilise the game. Their introduction helped slow the tempo, but the drama was far from over.

Liam Delap, returning from a 10-week injury layoff, was sent off for two quick yellow cards, leaving Chelsea with ten men for the final minutes. Just when Wolves looked set to complete an improbable comeback, Gittens restored Chelsea’s two-goal advantage with a stunning volley from the edge of the box.

Late Wolves Goal Sets Up Nervy Finish

Even that wasn’t the end of it. Within a minute, Wolfe grabbed his second goal of the night, lobbing Jorgensen to make it 4-3 and set up a nerve-shredding finale. Chelsea held firm through six minutes of added time to secure a place in the last eight, but they were made to sweat until the final whistle.

For Wolves, there was pride in the fightback if not the result, while for Chelsea, it was a reminder that even a comfortable lead can quickly turn precarious. Still, the Blues march on in the Carabao Cup, though they will know this one could easily have slipped away.