Realizing they could be the first EFL team to beat a Premier League team in the semi-finals since Bradford beat Aston Villa eleven years earlier, Boro had high expectations after shocking the Blues with a 1-0 victory at Riverside Stadium in the first leg. But before the half, Chelsea’s hopes were dashed by goals from Cole Palmer, Axel Disasi, Enzo Fernandez, Jonny Howson, and an own goal.
Palmer and Noni Madueke punished Michael Carrick’s team for mistakes in the second half, which resulted in the last two of those four goals. Boro had been caught playing out of the back.
Despite an uneven season, Chelsea has won five of its past six games. its supporters can look forward to Mauricio Pochettino’s debut season at the club as he attempts to win silverware on February 25 when the team travels to Wembley. Morgan Rogers added a late consolation goal for Boro.
The Comback Of The Blues
With Chelsea and Pochettino in the middle of the Premier League standings and without European football, the domestic cups have become extremely important as they try to show real development in a season of change.
Their shocking first-leg loss was partly caused by their ineffectiveness in front of goal, but Chelsea more than made up for it at Stamford Bridge, as Boro’s miserable record in west London continued. Since 1975, Boro has lost 22 away games against the Blues.
The first ten minutes gave hope that Boro could break the extended losing streak; Chelsea’s younger players appeared uneasy, and Pochettino repeatedly scolded Levi Colwill and Mykhailo Mudryk in particular.
Nevertheless, the captain set up Chelsea’s opening goal by threading a cross through to Raheem Sterling, who sadly diverted his cutback into the net, after Ben Chilwell—making his first start since September due to injury—narrowly missed.
After a deft Sterling backheel released Disasi in the area, Fernandez swiped in a loose ball. Rogers missed Boro’s lone opportunity of the first half, shooting at Djordje Petrovic.
A few minutes later, Disasi was attacking once more, launching a charge after jumping on Matt Clarke’s ball and then sprinting onto Sterling’s low cross.
Palmer’s first caught Boro off guard once more as Daniel Barlaser lost possession on the boundary of his own territory.
At halftime, Pochettino unleashed his ruthless side despite the three goals in the aggregate advantage. He replaced the unproductive Mudryk, who had an unjustified booking and lost possession eight times more often than he found a teammate with a pass seven times.
Palmer’s assured finish and Madueke’s deflected goal in the second half punished Boro for possession loses in critical positions, continuing their damaging trend.
Then, Rogers gave Boro their first goal at Stamford Bridge since Alen Boksic’s goal 23 years prior. He bent into the far corner to demonstrate why Aston Villa is eager to buy him this month and gave the visiting fans something to celebrate as they returned to Middlesbrough.
However, Chelsea had the better of the evening and will be watching with bated breath for the outcome of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Fulham, which they hope to win for the first time in nine years.
