Chelsea 6-1 Middlesbrough (6-2 aggregate): Cole Palmer double helps hosts reach Carabao Cup final
Report and free match highlights as Chelsea thrash Middlesbrough 6-1 in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final; Blues overturned 1-0 defeat in first leg; Cole Palmer's double, plus goals from Enzo Fernandez, Axel Disasi, Noni Madueke and a Jonny Howson own goal led Blues to win
@JoeShreadSky
Tuesday 23 January 2024 23:08, UK
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Chelsea blew away Middlesbrough with a rampant first-half display to record a 6-2 aggregate victory and clinch their place against either Liverpool or Fulham in the Carabao Cup final.
Boro stunned the Blues with a 1-0 win at the Riverside Stadium in the first leg and had genuine ambitions of becoming the first EFL side to eliminate Premier League opposition in the semi-finals since Bradford knocked out Aston Villa 11 years ago.
But Chelsea snuffed out those hopes before half-time thanks to Jonny Howson’s own goal, plus strikes from Enzo Fernandez, Axel Disasi and Cole Palmer.
The latter two of those four goals came after Boro were caught playing out from the back and that pattern continued in the second half, with errors by Michael Carrick’s team punished by Palmer and Noni Madueke.
Morgan Rogers added a late consolation goal for Boro but, amid an inconsistent campaign, Chelsea have now won five of their last six matches, while their supporters can look forward to a trip to Wembley on February 25 as Mauricio Pochettino looks to win silverware in his first season at the club.
Down in mid-table in the Premier League and without European football, the domestic cups have taken on great importance for Chelsea and Pochettino as they bid to demonstrate tangible progress during a transitional season.
Inefficiency in front of goal
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