Chelsea 6-1 Middlesbrough: Rampant Blues overturn deficit to reach League Cup final in convincing fashion

Chelsea secured their place in the League Cup final with an emphatic win 6-1 (agg. 6-2) win over Championship side Middlesbrough.

The hosts went into the second leg looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit but a rampant first half in which they scored four goals quickly put to bed any signs of an upset.

The Premier League side quickly asserted themselves and an unfortunate Johnny Howson own goal started the rout before Enzo Fernandez added the second with a simple finish.

Axel Disasi then scored his first goal for the Blues after a quick counter-attack, before a defensive mishap from Daniel Balasaar allowed Cole Palmer to continue his red form, scoring his 10th goal of the campaign.

Chelsea played the second half largely at a canter but still managed to catch Middlesbrough out two more times, who remained committed to playing out from the back.

Palmer doubled his tally with a composed finished to score the fifth of the game, while Noni Madueke scored a deserved sixth goal with the help of a deflection.

Middlesbrough did give their travelling faithful something to remember as Morgan Rogers scored a fantastic strike from the edge of the box late on. His side will be hoping they can learn something from the experience and continue their surge up the Championship table.

Meanwhile, Chelsea will advance to final to face Fulham or Liverpool as manager Mauricio Pochettino eyes his first trophy in English football.

It’s been far from a smooth season at Chelsea who have seen another large influx of new players and a new manager in Pochettino.

They find themselves ninth in the Premier League and with no Europe need something to celebrate. For a club so used to winning silverware, the League Cup could be the perfect answer to lift some pressure not only on Pochettino but the club in general.

Probably one of Chelsea’s most questioned signings in the summer but also the most successful. He’s been the main man this season and was again tonight. Middlesbrough may have made things somewhat straightforward for the Blues tonight, but Englishman was at the heart of everything good from Chelsea and got a deserved brace to take his tally to 11 this season.

Chelsea – Petrovic 6, Disasi 7, Silva 7, Colwill 6, Chilwell 8, Caicedo 7, Fernandez 8, Palmer 9, Mudryk 5, Sterling 6, Broja 5. Subs: Madueke 8, Gilchrist 6, Gallagher 7, Chukwuemeka 6, Castledine 5

Middlesborough – Glover 5, Clarke 4, Fry 4, Van Den Berg 3, Engel 3, Crooks 6, Barlaser 3, Howson 6, Hackney 5, Forss 4, Rodgers 6. Subs: Dijksteel 5, O’Brien 5, Gilbert 5.

15’ GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 (1-1) MIDDLESBROUGH (HOWSON OWN GOAL) – A silk move by Chelsea as Chilwell slips the ball through to Sterling who cleverly squares it Broja who’s touch is level but the ball bounces in off Howson anyway to get Chelsea level on aggregate.

36’ CHELSEA 3-0 (3-1) MIDDLESBROUGH (DISASI) – The defender opens his account for Chelsea after a mishap from Middlesbrough. Sterling pounces on a loose pass from Clarke before crossing to Disasi who applies a simple finish.

42’ CHELSEA 4-0 (4-1) MIDDLESBROUGH (PALMER) – Four in the first half for Chelsea and that should seal it! Another bit of loose play at the back from Middlesbrough. Palmer collects the ball and slots it past Glover to cap a superb first half performance from the home side.

88’ CHELSEA 6-1 (6-2) MIDDLESBROUGH (ROGERS) – The travelling fans do have something to shout about! A superb finish from Rogers who hits it low and hard into the bottom corner from the edge box, rewarding the fantastic Middlesbrough supporters who have travelled a long way to be here.

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