Benoit Badiashile shines as Chelsea triumph over Blackburn in Carabao Cup

Chelsea secures a 2-0 victory over Blackburn in the Carabao Cup, with Benoit Badiashile scoring the opening goal in his first appearance of the season.

In a thrilling Carabao Cup match at Stamford Bridge, Benoit Badiashile made a triumphant return to the Chelsea lineup, scoring the opening goal and leading his team to a 2-0 victory over Blackburn. This was Badiashile's first appearance of the season, as he had been sidelined with an injury since May. The French defender made his presence felt at both ends of the pitch, showcasing his skills and contributing to Chelsea's success.

Joining Badiashile in his comeback was Reece James, who returned to the starting XI after a period of absence. The duo's performance added depth and strength to the Chelsea lineup, giving them an edge over their opponents. Raheem Sterling also made a significant impact, firing home a goal in the second half to secure the win for Chelsea.

Despite Blackburn's strong defensive efforts, they were unable to mount a comeback and were outplayed by Chelsea throughout the match. The visitors, who had not played a League Cup contest at Stamford Bridge in 26 years, were hoping for a better outcome this time. However, they were unable to replicate their past success and were ultimately defeated by a superior Chelsea side.

This victory marked Chelsea's 24th quarter-final appearance in the Carabao Cup out of 33 attempts, highlighting their consistent performance in the competition. They are now one step closer to lifting the League Cup for the first time since 2015 when Mauricio Pochettino, the current Chelsea boss, was in charge of runners-up Tottenham.

The match itself started off with little excitement, with both teams trying to find their rhythm. Chelsea had a few wasted opportunities from corners, while Blackburn's Dilan Markanday's effort missed the target. It took over 15 minutes for Chelsea to test Blackburn's goalkeeper, Leopold Wahlstedt, with a drilled shot from Reece James. Wahlstedt made a crucial save, denying Chelsea an early goal.

As the first half progressed, Badiashile showcased his defensive prowess by clearing away a Blackburn chance. James had another attempt from distance, and Enzo Fernandez forced Wahlstedt into a low save. Blackburn's resilient defense frustrated Chelsea, but a stroke of luck fell in Badiashile's favor. The ball landed at his feet, and he made no mistake in finishing to give Chelsea the lead.

The second half saw both teams pushing for more goals. Harry Leonard came close to equalizing for Blackburn, firing inches wide of the post. Fernandez's effort was easily saved by Wahlstedt. However, it was Sterling who stole the show with a powerful shot into the top right corner, extending Chelsea's lead.

Both managers made changes to their respective lineups, but Chelsea continued to dominate. Blackburn had a scare when a deflected shot from Cole Palmer threatened to find the back of the net, but it hit the post and was cleared. Chelsea pushed for a third goal, with Gallagher and Sterling coming close. Blackburn's cup campaign came to an end as the clock ran down, but substitute Arnor Sigurdsson almost scored a consolation goal in stoppage time.

Overall, it was a memorable match for Chelsea, with Badiashile's return and impressive performances from James and Sterling. The victory puts them in a strong position to compete for the League Cup title. Blackburn fought hard but ultimately fell short against a determined Chelsea side.