Chelsea vs Middlesbrough LIVE: Carabao Cup result and reaction after Cole Palmer scores twice
Chelsea will look to overturn their first-leg deficit to book a spot in their ninth League Cup final at Wembley
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The first finalists for this season’s Carabao Cup final has been decided, after Chelsea beat Middlesbrough with a thoroughly convincing performance and an eventual 6-1 scoreline, for 6-2 on aggregate. It was the Championship side who secured a slender 1-0 advantage in their home half of the tie but they couldn’t keep pace once the Blues got started.
A clinical performance saw Jonny Howson’s early own goal added to by Enzo Fernandez, Axel Disasi, Cole Palmer twice and Noni Madueke, before a late consolation goal from Morgan Rogers. The Blues will now face a late February date against either Fulham or Liverpool in the final.
Follow below for all the match reaction. Click here for all the odds and tips.
Wembley cup final at last gives Chelsea reason for optimism after a reset season of struggle
After months of unpredictability, Chelsea are now a mere 90 minutes from what they know best. Mauricio Pochettino has the chance to win a first trophy of this ownership, and his own first trophy in England, after the easiest of 6-1 wins over Middlesbrough. Chelsea are through to the Carabao Cup final for the third time in six seasons, even if the previous ones feel like a different lifetime.
The worries of the first leg of this tie meanwhile feel like a different world. This match against Middlesbrough had been billed as the sort of awkward tie that could start to cause Pochettino’s time to start spiralling, especially with how they’d lost the first leg 1-0.
It ended up a show of strength. Poor Middlesbrough endured a night they’ll want to instantly forget, when they had themselves been just 90 minutes from an occasion to remember. They just buckled under the force of Chelsea’s attacking.
That phrase should be put in some context, and it’s not like many will be building up a mere Carabao Cup final appearance as a new dawn. Chelsea still probably have to play Liverpool, although even Fulham would be, again, awkward opponents.
There was then the manner they won this. In a game characterised by youth, Chelsea’s exuberance won out against Middlesbrough’s naivety. The different cost of that youth helped. There is a chasm between the clubs in the accounts, and it led to numerous gaps on the pitch. Rarely will Pochettino’s side have a victory as easy as this.
Wembley cup final gives Chelsea reason for optimism in a reset season of struggle
Chelsea 6-1 Middlesbrough (agg 6-2): Mauricio Pochettino’s side will play Liverpool or Fulham in the Carabao Cup final
FT - Chelsea 6-1 Middlesbrough (Agg 6-2)
“We are young and we need to grow. These types of games, semi-finals, it’s a good experience for young players and of course it will help us to compete.
“Step by step we’re building a very good team. We just need time to put it all in place and perform in the best way,” Pochettino has continued.
“We don’t have much time to prepare for Friday against Aston Villa and we have too many injuries. We cannot complain, people just need to trust in us. Now we have the first possibility to win the first title of the season.”
His team are into the final and they will face Liverpool or Fulham at Wembley.
FT - Chelsea 6-1 Middlesbrough (Agg 6-2)
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino on Sky Sports:
“We didn’t get the result we deserved at Middlesbrough. Tonight we were really good.
“Cole Palmer is a player with amazing talent, he has the quality to see the situations and analyse and read the game, he’s a player who can play from the right, the striker or behind the striker areas. We try to give him some freedom because in this type of game he can find the best position to help the team. He’s doing fantastic for us.”
FT - Chelsea 6-1 Middlesbrough (Agg 6-2)
“They had chances two weeks ago. Tonight they killed Middlesbrough off, that was the big difference,” says Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on Sky Sports after the match.
Karen Carney suggests that perhaps the context of the night, against a Championship side, was too routine for it to really “feel” like they were through to a final.
Wembley cup final at last gives Chelsea reason for optimism after a reset season of struggle
After months of unpredictability, Chelsea are now a mere 90 minutes from what they know best. Mauricio Pochettino has the chance to win a first trophy of this ownership, and his own first trophy in England, after the easiest of 6-1 wins over Middlesbrough. Chelsea are through to the Carabao Cup final for the third time in six seasons, even if the previous ones feel like a different lifetime.
The worries of the first leg of this tie meanwhile feel like a different world. This match against Middlesbrough had been billed as the sort of awkward tie that could start to cause Pochettino’s time to start spiralling, especially with how they’d lost the first leg 1-0.
It ended up a show of strength. Poor Middlesbrough endured a night they’ll want to instantly forget, when they had themselves been just 90 minutes from an occasion to remember. They just buckled under the force of Chelsea’s attacking.
That phrase should be put in some context, and it’s not like many will be building up a mere Carabao Cup final appearance as a new dawn. Chelsea still probably have to play Liverpool, although even Fulham would be, again, awkward opponents.
There was then the manner they won this. In a game characterised by youth, Chelsea’s exuberance won out against Middlesbrough’s naivety. The different cost of that youth helped. There is a chasm between the clubs in the accounts, and it led to numerous gaps on the pitch. Rarely will Pochettino’s side have a victory as easy as this.
Miguel Delaney at Stamford Bridge:
Wembley Cup final gives Chelsea reason for optimism after a reset season of struggle
Chelsea 6-1 Middlesbrough (agg 6-2): Mauricio Pochettino’s side will play Liverpool or Fulham in the Carabao Cup final
FT - Chelsea 6-1 Middlesbrough (Agg 6-2)
“It was a great game after losing the first so I’m happy. We deserved to win this game and it’s my first time going to Wembley so I’m very happy for this,” Axel Disasi has told Sky at full-time. “We have to keep this motivation to win more games, now we have to stay focused and we have another game Friday.”
“After the first game we knew it’d be difficult but to go to Wembley for the first time it has to be a good day,” adds Cole Palmer.
“I missed three sitters in the first game so it was always in the back of mind to come here and score two.
“We’ve not had the best of starts, no hiding it. But it’s a big opportunity to get a trophy and we’re looking forward to it.”
FT - Chelsea 6-1 Middlesbrough (Agg 6-2)
There’s the final whistle and it’s Chelsea who are indeed through to the Carabao Cup final!
A very impressive showing in attack from them, even taking into account errors from Middlesbrough and their inability to play out from the back.
90’+1 - Chelsea 6-1 Middlesbrough
Three minutes added on.
Chelsea have steamrollered their opponents tonight in truth, a very clinical and impressive display from Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
GOAL! 88’ - Chelsea 6-1 Middlesbrough
Brilliant goal - at the other end! Morgan Rodgers breaks down the left, cuts inside and works a yard to bend a fierce shot past Disasi and Petrovic, finding the far bottom corner.
A consolation for the night and a reason to cheer for the travelling fans. He’s also top scorer in the competition now, with five.
Boro sub: Crooks off, Gilbert on.
84’ - Chelsea 6-0 Middlesbrough
Boro have the ball in the net as a cross from deep is flicked in by a header from Crooks, but he’s offside and the flag is up smartly. Still 6-0.
Sterling is replaced by Castledine for a senior Chelsea debut for the final minutes of the match.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments