Middlesbrough vs Chelsea LIVE: Carabao Cup semi-final result and reaction after huge first-leg shock
Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea: Hayden Hackney’s first-half goal gave the Championship side a slender lead to take to Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup semi-finals
Chelsea suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final with Hayden Hackney’s goal giving Mauricio Pochettino’s wasteful side plenty to do in the return.
The 21-year-old Hackney’s silky finish from an Isaiah Jones pass stunned the visitors in the 37th minute at the Riverside Stadium and the Championship side defended superbly to take a slender advantage to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea only had themselves to blame though as they dominated possession but squandered a host of chances -- the biggest culprit being Cole Palmer who failed to hit the target twice in the opening half with the goal gaping.
Boro, who won the trophy in 2004, had chances on the counter-attack to increase their lead but will head to London believing they can reach Wembley. Chelsea’s players were booed by some of their own fans at the final whistle but will have the chance to make amends in the second leg on January 23.
Follow live updates from Middlesbrough vs Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, below.
FULL TIME! Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
No club more than Chelsea understands what winning the Carabao Cup can do to a Blues manager’s career, having seen the competition kickstart Jose Mourinho’s ascension to the pantheon of coaching greats.
A semi-final draw with a midtable Championship team gave Maurico Pochettino the perfect opportunity to continue his such journey, even if Chelsea in their current guise are operating in a different realm to Mourinho’s Premier League 2004-05 champions elect.
Yet, after seeing his side slip to a shock first-leg defeat to Middlesbrough at the Riverside, the Argentine can only look at himself when the dust has settled on another defeat that leaves the Blues faithful doubting whether their side will ever overcome their dizzying struggles with inconsistency this season.
By Pete Hall at the Riverside
Cole Palmer misses cost Chelsea but Mauricio Pochettino only has himself to blame
Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea: Hayden Hackney’s goal gave the Championship side a famous win and a narrow leg to take to Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup semi-finals
FULL TIME! Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino said he could “understand” the anger of the Chelsea fans after his players were booed off the pitch by the travelling supporters at the Riverside following a dismal 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
Sections of the Chelsea away end were furious at full time and Pochettino’s team were jeered as they attempted to make their way to applaud them after the final whistle. Thiago Silva was involved in heated discussions with some fans, although the veteran defender was mostly applauded by the Chelsea supporters after he was only one of three players - along with Levi Colwill and Armando Broja - who stayed to show their appreciation.
It came at the end of a woeful night for Pochettino and his players as Hayden Hackney handed Championship side Middlesbrough a first-leg lead to take to Stamford Bridge in 15 days time. Cole Palmer missed a hat-trick of first-half chances for the Blues, who failed to create any further opportunities after the break despite dominating possession against Michael Carrick’s team.
The result was Chelsea’s 21st away defeat in all competitions since the start of last season - no other team has lost more among Premier League sides - and Pochettino, who has only been in charge since the start of the season, said he could appreciate why the Chelsea supporters were so frustrated at full time.
Mauricio Pochettino ‘can understand’ fan anger as Chelsea players booed off
Defender Thiago Silva was involved in heating discussions with some Chelsea fans in the away end after the Blues lost 1-0 at Middlesbrough in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final
FULL TIME! Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, speaking to Sky Sports: “Today, the approach was good. We can’t say anything about the attitude but we made mistakes in the first half and gave chances for them to score. They were aggressive and played on the transition. It was hard to break down this block.
“We had too many chances to score and that’s football. It’s only the first half of the tie and we have another 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge so we have to be positive.
“We made some mistakes and we were punished for that. We have to keep pushing as if we assess the performance, overall we were the better side, created clear chances. We weren’t clinical and that’s happened a lot in the six months across many games.
“We have 15 days [before the second leg] so we can recover some players. We’re now thinking about Fulham and we will move on.”
FULL TIME! Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
2023 was a dismal year for Chelsea. 2024 isn’t off to a great start, either.
FULL TIME! Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
It looks and sounds as if the Chelsea players were booed by the away end as they went over after full time.
Thiago Silva looked to stay and have a word with some of the fans, who applaud the Brazilian.
But the rest of the Chelsea team were long gone.
FULL TIME! Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
Incredible result for Middlesbrough! Hayden Hackney’s first-half goal was enough and after a series of misses from Cole Palmer, Chelsea created absolutely nothing after the break!
Middlesbrough will head to Stamford Bridge with a first-leg lead. They couldn’t have asked for more.
FULL TIME! Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
90+4 mins: Foul in the box... Middlesbrough free kick!
And that’s it! Middlesbrough beat Chelsea in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals!
Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
90+3 mins: Mudryk swings in a cross to the back post and Gilchrist gets his head to it... deflected out for a late corner!
One last chance for Chelsea?
Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
90+2 mins: Chelsea look to break forward but Clarke is able to take a chance with his challenge, before the hosts thump the ball away.
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