Chelsea went into Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Middlesbrough not only with a place in a Wembley final at stake, but also hoping to avoid the embarrassment of failing to make it there ahead of an opponent from the league below.
Boro, who faced Chelsea in the 1997 FA Cup final but have only been a Premier League team for one of the last 15 seasons, opened up a 1-0 aggregate lead a fortnight ago at the Riverside Stadium.
Optimism that the underdogs might be playing under Wembley’s arch next month was fairly quickly extinguished by a 15th minute own goal from veteran Boro midfielder Jonny Howson. Enzo Fernandez, Axel Disasi and Cole Palmer then ran up the score-line to 4-0 by half-time.
Another from Palmer and a late one from Noni Madueke inflated that to 6-0, before, Aston Villa target Morgan Rogers ensured travelling had at least something to smile about by the end.
Users on X, formerly known as Twitter, had plenty to say as usual.
I can’t believe what I’m watching. Chelsea beating a Championship side to reach the Carabao Cup final, and all it took was a billion pounds spent in three transfer windows. Inspirational stuff.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) January 23, 2024
Chelsea started by playing players in their actual positions. Always a plus.
Chilwell at left-back AND Colwill at centre-back? 😍😍😍😍😍 https://t.co/OT8migvFrT
— Olivia Buzaglo (@OliviaBuzaglo) January 23, 2024
The visitors did start well, but it didn’t last.
Only seven minutes in but Middlesbrough have been far more impressive than Chelsea so far, look organised and have a plan without fear, Blues already going long a fair bit
— Sean Walsh (@SeanDZWalsh) January 23, 2024
The own goal was the early slice of luck Chelsea probably needed to settle any nerves.
The start Chelsea wanted! ✅🟦 pic.twitter.com/GC7qKg5K9w
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 23, 2024
Armando Broja was a bit crap but somehow very effective. His poor first touch was responsible for the ball bobbling in off Howson, while a scuffed shot then inadvertently set up Fernandez’s goal.
If you combined Werner’s finishing with Havertz’s clunkiness, Morata’s offsides, Abraham’s passing and Higuain’s slowness you’d get Armando Broja.
— ⚡️ (@clinicalcolee) January 23, 2024
That’s £108m well spent if it means beating a Championship team to reach a Carabao Cup final.
Is Enzo Fernandez finally coming good for Chelsea? 🇦🇷✨#BBCFootball #Chelsea #CFC #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/RRDwsHWpIG
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) January 23, 2024
Chelsea didn’t pay quite nearly so much for Palmer. He got his tenth of the season, then his 11th.
After 22 games, Cole Palmer has already scored more goals across all competitions in 2023/24 (10) than any Chelsea player managed in the whole of last season.
Ice Cole into double figures. 🤫 pic.twitter.com/IRZGUSzbha
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 23, 2024
Eyebrows were raised in September when cost as many millions as he’d previously played senior games, but it’s hard to argue with such an impact.
Could you argue Cole Palmer is THE signing of the summer? Or not? 😂😂😂 #CFC
— Olivia Buzaglo (@OliviaBuzaglo) January 23, 2024
Cole Palmer has registered multiple goal involvements in a single game 5 times for Chelsea:
⚽🅰️ vs. Burnley
⚽🅰️ vs. Spurs
⚽🅰️ vs. Sheffield United
⚽⚽🅰️ vs. Luton
⚽⚽ vs. MiddlesbroughIce cold. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/nZ7wz0cNyo
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 23, 2024
Chelsea’s third from Disasi slightly earlier was reminiscent of prime Ricardo Carvalho.
Brilliant finish from Axel Disasi 😍💫 pic.twitter.com/UsHSCHfRL0
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 23, 2024
Madueke adding a sixth after Palmer’s fifth was important for him after a stop-start season.
Madueke… 6-0. This is the Chelsea I know and love.
— Conn (@ConnCFC) January 23, 2024
Ultimately, it was broken dreams for more than just those of a Tees persuasion.
So close to the dream there of the ball coming into the press box and heading it back. Instead bounces to a fan near us who tries to throw it up for himself to head it, it falls behind him and another guy impatiently throws it back.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) January 23, 2024
Hope of seeing something special from Middlesbrough never truly extinguished.
Middlesbrough to win 7-6 anyone?
— BarryFootball (@OTismychurch) January 23, 2024
There was time for a Chelsea debut for Leo Castledine and John Terry was pleased.
Congratulations Leo
Love him and so will the Chelsea fans, he is like a magnet in the box 💙⚽️ pic.twitter.com/pA2DZDB4vN— John Terry (@JohnTerry26) January 23, 2024
…and even time for a late Middlesbrough consolation too. It was a great finish from a player who may not be at the club by the end of next week.
Asking price for Morgan Rogers has just gone up for #AVFC
— Simon Johnson (@SJohnsonSport) January 23, 2024
READ THE LATEST CARABAO CUP NEWS, PREVIEWS & RATINGS HERE
Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
90Mins
