George inspires as Chelsea avoid Lincoln upset

Lincoln's last meeting with Chelsea ended in a goalless draw in 1911

Teenager Tyrique George scored and set up another to inspire Chelsea as they avoided a Carabao Cup upset at League One Lincoln City.

The third-tier outfit led at the break after Rob Street took advantage of a stray Enzo Fernandez pass, but George scored three minutes after the restart before assisting Facundo Buonanotte for the 50th-minute winner.

Lincoln boss Michael Skubala rested several starters as he kept faith in those who impressed in earlier rounds, and the Imps terrorised the world champions with their tireless pressing and aerial threat from long throw-ins.

Lewis Montsma almost gave them the perfect start, but his low early effort after Chelsea failed to clear a long throw cannoned off the foot of the post with visiting keeper Filip Jorgensen well beaten.

The Premier League side's shaky start was summed up by Jorgensen clattering into Wesley Fofana - one of his side's few fit centre-backs - inside the opening minutes.

Lincoln, third in League One, continued to cause chaos in the Chelsea box, as Jorgensen - deputising for the suspended Robert Sanchez - struggled to deal with aerial balls.

The 23-year-old almost gifted Chelsea fan Freddie Draper the opener when his failed punch landed at the striker's feet, but Lincoln team-mate Sonny Bradley inadvertently blocked the goalbound effort.

It was fitting the 42nd-minute opener was of Chelsea's own doing, with captain Fernandez playing a sloppy looping ball across the back, which was cut out by Ivan Varfolomeev and slotted home by Street.

Lincoln deserved the lead - they had 21 touches inside the opposition box compared to Chelsea's 10 and recorded 10 shots to nine - but that domination seemed to poke the bear.

Chelsea emerged for the second half several minutes before their lower-league opponents, and wasted little time getting on level terms.

George's stinging drive from the edge of the penalty area went in off the post in the 48th minute, and two minutes later the 19-year-old linked up with Buonanotte who jinked through tackles before stabbing past Zach Jeacock.

To their credit Lincoln heads didn't drop, and Jorrel Hato had to be alert to sweep away a deflection off Trevoh Chalobah inside the six-yard box.

Chelsea could have made the win more comfortable had Jeacock not kept out substitute Estevao with his legs, but in the end a sub-par performance still secured them a place in the fourth round.

Analysis: Blues made to sweat as Lincoln highlight weaknesses

During Monday's pre-match press conference, Enzo Maresca said he was "very worried" about facing Lincoln, because against lower-league opposition "you can slip very easily".

He was right to be worried.

After a physically and emotionally draining week that saw Chelsea follow up a 2-2 league draw against Brentford with defeats to Bayern Munich and Manchester United, a side packed with expensive talents were largely outclassed in Lincolnshire.

Maresca made eight changes to his starting XI and, were he not already without seven first-team regulars through injury and looking to end a three-game winless run, he would probably have made more.

Yet those who came in both struggled to cope with Lincoln's directness or have much impact of their own, forcing the Italian to turn to those who probably could have done with a night off.

Pedro Neto, Estevao and Marc Cucurella were introduced once Chelsea had established a fragile lead, and could by no means cruise to victory without exerting themselves.

Such was the threat Lincoln carried all night, Maresca dared not withdraw either of his centre-back pairing Chalobah and Fofana, both of whom had played practically every minute of their previous three games.

Winger Alejandro Garnacho was handed a first start, but belied his £40m price tag with a disappointing first-half showing, and spent largely on the ground as the home fans jeered at Sincil Bank.

Lincoln showed exactly why they are flying high in League One with a fearless display, but missed out on the chance of a famous shock - a first win over Chelsea since an FA Cup tie in 1907 - with slack defending during a five-minute spell at the start of the second half.

Boss Skubala - the former head coach of the England futsal team and one-time Leeds United interim manager - will take heart at how his side's energetic high-pressing approach and threat in the air could unsettle top-flight opposition.

What's next for these teams?

Chelsea will look to get their Premier League campaign back on track when they host Brighton on Saturday, 27 September (15:00 BST).

They will then welcome Jose Mourinho back to Stamford Bridge as his Benfica side visit in the Champions League on Tuesday, 30 September (20:00 BST).

Lincoln will hope to continue their fine start to the season when they visit Peterborough in League One on Saturday, 27 September (15:00 BST).