Lincoln City 1-2 Chelsea Player Ratings: Tyrique George 8.5/10 Rated as the Blues Survive Scare with Quickfire Comeback 2-1 in the Second Half

These are the type of games that make the Carabao Cup so thrilling to watch as a fan. The match had all the makings of a classic giant-killing. Lincoln City were immense, pressing with intensity and giving Chelsea a real run for their money. They deservedly took the lead just before halftime through a well-taken goal from Robert Street, sending the home fans into delirium.

It genuinely felt like an upset was brewing. Chelsea looked rattled and disjointed for the entire first half. Whatever manager Enzo Maresca said at halftime, however, worked miracles. The Blues came out on a different side, scoring twice in just two minutes through Tyrique George and Facundo Buonanotte to completely flip the match on its head. Lincoln City vs Chelsea showed why the Carabao Cup has produced so many giant-killer matches in this competition for decades.

Despite the comeback, Lincoln City will feel they could have gotten something. They hit the crossbar early on and created numerous chances throughout the game, but lacked that clinical edge. In the end, Chelsea’s superior quality saw them through, but they were forced to fight for every single ball and can count themselves a little lucky to be in the next round. Here are the Lincoln City vs Chelsea player ratings.

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Lincoln City

Here are the Chelsea player ratings vs Lincoln City.

Goalkeeper

Filip Jørgensen - 6.0: He couldn't do much about the goal he conceded. What stood out to us was an error leading to a shot that put his team under unnecessary pressure. His distribution was okay, but he looked a little nervy. The yellow card for time-wasting late in the game was a clear sign of how tense things got for Chelsea.

Defenders

Malo Gusto - 7.5: A really impressive performance from the right-back. He was a constant threat going forward, creating a big chance and always making himself available. Defensively, he was sound, winning most of his duels and recovering the ball seven times. He seemed to be everywhere on that right flank.

Trevoh Chalobah - 7.0: A true defensive wall tonight. We noticed his incredible tally of 10 clearances, which tells you how much pressure Lincoln put on the backline. He was dominant in his duels and provided a sense of calm amidst the chaos. A really commanding display from the center-back.

Wesley Fofana - 7.0: Alongside Chalobah, Fofana had his work cut out for him. He matched his partner with a dozen clearances and wasn't afraid to put his body on the line. After an early injury scare, he recovered to put in a robust performance. He was a key reason Lincoln didn't score more.

Jorrel Hato - 6.5: A mixed night for the young defender. His passing from the back was sublime, with 94% accuracy helping Chelsea build play. However, from our perspective, missing a big chance was a major letdown. He was solid enough at the back but lacked that final decisive action when it mattered.

Midfielders

Andrey Santos - 6.5: A pure battler in the midfield. He won a staggering 10 duels, showing his physical prowess. However, he also picked up a booking and was dribbled past a couple of times. It was a gritty, hardworking performance, but one that lacked a bit of polish and discipline.

Enzo Fernández - 5.0: A night to forget for the captain. The World Cup winner was responsible for an error leading to Lincoln's goal, a mistake you just don't expect at this level. He lost possession far too often and looked completely off the pace before being substituted. A very poor performance.

Jamie Gittens - 6.0: He was full of running and energy but his end product was frustratingly absent. What stood out was the big chance he missed in the first half which could have settled some nerves. He got into dangerous areas but couldn't deliver the killer blow. An active but ineffective outing.

Alejandro Garnacho - 6.5: The winger showed some bright sparks and was a nightmare for the Lincoln defence, drawing four fouls. He created a big chance and always looked to be positive on the ball. However, his influence waned and he was fairly quiet overall before his substitution.

Forwards

Tyrique George - 8.5: Unquestionably the man of the match for Chelsea. When his team was down and out, he single-handedly dragged them back into the contest. He scored a brilliant equaliser and then provided the assist for the winner. A truly clutch performance that decided the game. What a player.

Facundo Buonanotte - 7.5: He got the all-important winning goal, popping up in the right place at the right time. It was a chaotic performance; he missed two big chances and gave away several fouls. But you can't argue with a game-winning goal. He brought energy and a clinical finish when it counted.

Substitutes

Estêvão, Shumaira Mheuka, Marc Cucurella, Pedro Neto, Reggie Walsh: The substitutes were brought on to see the game out. Cucurella managed to get himself booked almost immediately. Neto looked lively and tried to make things happen, but the game was largely settled by the time they came on.

Manager

E. Maresca - 7.0: He must have been tearing his hair out at halftime. His team was second-best all over the park. But his halftime team talk clearly had a massive impact, as Chelsea came out and won the game in five minutes. He gets credit for the turnaround and for securing a difficult win.

Lincoln City Player Ratings vs Chelsea

Here are the Lincoln City player ratings vs Chelsea.

Goalkeeper

Zach Jeacock - 6.5: We felt for him. He made a couple of decent saves but stood no chance with Chelsea's two quick-fire goals which were both excellent finishes. His distribution was a bit shaky, which put his team under pressure at times. A tough night against a top side.

Defenders

Tendayi Darikwa - 6.5: The captain led by example with a determined display. He even managed to create two chances from right-back. Defensively it was a tough assignment against Chelsea's tricky wingers, but he stuck to his task admirably and never stopped fighting for his team.

Sonny Bradley - 7.0: An absolute colossus at the back. He was phenomenal in the air, winning almost every header. His reading of the game was excellent, leading to four crucial interceptions. A truly heroic defensive effort that kept his team in the game for so long.

Lewis Montsma - 6.5: He was so unlucky not to score when he struck the crossbar early in the match. That moment could have changed everything. Defensively, he put in a solid shift, though he sometimes struggled with the movement of Chelsea's forwards. A spirited performance.

Tom Hamer - 6.0: A very strange performance to rate. Going forward, he was one of Lincoln's best creative outlets, creating four chances. Defensively, however, he was a liability, losing possession 26 times. It was a chaotic and unpredictable display that was both brilliant and frustrating.

Ryley Towler - 6.0: He was strong in his individual duels and won a good number of aerial battles. However, his positioning was suspect on a few occasions and his use of the ball wasn't always the best. A committed but ultimately average performance.

Midfielders

Conor McGrandles - 8.0: Our man of the match for Lincoln. This guy was absolutely everywhere. The stat of seven interceptions is simply unbelievable and shows how he dominated the midfield battle. He also created a big chance and fought for every loose ball. A monstrous performance.

Ivan Varfolomeev - 7.0: The creative hub for Lincoln City. He provided a brilliant assist for the opening goal and was a constant threat with his delivery from set-pieces. His vision and passing caused Chelsea problems all night until he was surprisingly substituted. A very classy display.

Ben House - 5.5: He really struggled to get into the game. From our perspective, he spent more time committing fouls and chasing shadows than impacting the match. He picked up a deserved yellow card and looked off the pace. It was no surprise to see him taken off.

Forwards

Robert Street - 7.5: He lived the dream by scoring against a Premier League giant. His goal was taken with great composure and sent the stadium into a frenzy. Beyond the goal, his hold-up play was excellent, and he worked tirelessly to pressure the Chelsea defenders. A fantastic night's work.

Freddie Draper - 6.0: He was a bundle of energy and caused problems with his direct running. However, his finishing let him down badly. He missed two big chances that could have changed the course of the match. All that effort without the end product.

Substitutes

Reeco Hackett, Tom Bayliss, Justin Obikwu, James Collins, Francis Okoronkwo: The subs tried to add fresh legs, but Chelsea had taken control of the game by then. James Collins came on and immediately got into a physical battle, earning a yellow card for his troubles.

Manager

M. Skubala - 7.5: He should be incredibly proud of his team. His tactics were spot on, and they executed his game plan almost perfectly. They went toe-to-toe with Chelsea and were arguably the better team for large periods. A heartbreaking loss, but a performance full of pride and passion.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Tyrique George