Chelsea survived a major scare against League One side Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup third round, thanks to second-half goals from Tyrique George and Facundo Buonanotte. The Blues, who had suffered recent defeats against Manchester United and Bayern Munich, found themselves trailing at half-time after a deserved goal from Lincoln's Rob Street. However, a spirited comeback in the first five minutes after the restart, inspired by George and Buonanotte, ensured Chelsea progressed to the fourth round.

Lincoln, playing in front of a vociferous home crowd, started the game brightly, determined to cause an upset against the Club World Cup champions. Within the first two minutes, Lewis Montsma struck the post, signaling the League One side's intent. Chelsea, with eight changes to their starting lineup from the defeat to Manchester United, looked rattled by Lincoln's pressing game. Despite Chelsea gradually growing into the match, it was Lincoln who took the lead in the 42nd minute. A careless pass from Enzo Fernandez was intercepted by Ivan Varfolomeyev, who set up Rob Street to slot the ball past Chelsea's goalkeeper, Filip Jorgensen.

Facing the prospect of an embarrassing defeat, Chelsea responded strongly after the break. Just two minutes into the second half, Tyrique George unleashed a powerful half-volley from 25 yards that flew past Lincoln's goalkeeper Zach Jeacock and in off the post. The 19-year-old's stunning strike leveled the score and injected new life into Chelsea's performance.

The turnaround was completed just three minutes later when George turned provider, assisting Facundo Buonanotte for his first Chelsea goal. Buonanotte, on loan from Brighton, exchanged passes with George before dribbling past a couple of defenders and slotting the ball past Jeacock. The two quickfire goals silenced the Lincoln crowd and put Chelsea in control of the match.

Despite the setback, Lincoln continued to pose a threat, but Chelsea managed to see out the remainder of the game without too much danger. Buonanotte was close to adding a second goal but was denied by Jeacock. Chelsea introduced substitutes to maintain their advantage and ultimately secured a 2-1 victory.

Tyrique George's performance was a major highlight for Chelsea, with his goal and assist proving crucial to the comeback win. Facundo Buonanotte also impressed, scoring his first goal for the club and showcasing his ability to create chances. While Chelsea's performance was unconvincing at times, the victory ensured their progression to the Carabao Cup fourth round and provided a much-needed confidence boost after a difficult week.