Baggio breaks Rotherham hearts as Chelsea lift the Carabao Cup

Lucas was sent off after barely a minute, and Rotherham United’s Carabao Cup final was suddenly a test of survival. Hamada Seh came on at once, but Chelsea had the time and space to make their pressure tell: Howard Parkins scored on 14 minutes, then Roberto Baggio took over, scoring either side of half-time in a 3-0 win at Wembley on Saturday.

Their preview had spoken of another chance against a side they knew they could hurt. Instead, that early dismissal left the final fighting uphill before it had properly begun.

Parkins put Chelsea ahead with a low shot from close range. Baggio’s first came on the stroke of half-time, a shot along the ground; six minutes after the restart, he drove a third low and hard. His two goals earned him the match’s top individual honour, but the display was broader than the finishing: four key passes, four shots and four tackles won before he was replaced in the 88th minute.

Chelsea had 27 shots to Rotherham’s two, and their control was not measured only by the score. They forced four saves from the Rotherham goalkeeper, while the Millers managed one effort on target. Rotherham’s resistance was frayed further when Marco Beretta went off injured in the 67th minute. Their night had begun with a red card; it ended with Chelsea celebrating the cup.

Tony Konneh, once at Chelsea, came on for Rotherham after Baggio’s second goal. But the decisive story belonged to Baggio, who gave Rotherham no foothold in the final and carried Chelsea to another Carabao Cup title.