Chelsea storm back to overturn Middlesbrough, reach League Cup final

Chelsea are now just 90 (or potentially 120) minutes from winning their first trophy under Mauricio Pochettino, after a 6-1 dismantling of Middlesbrough (6-2 on agg.) at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

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The Blues will face the winner of Liverpool and Fulham in the other semifinal on Wednesday (Liverpool lead 2-1 after the first leg), in the final at Wembley Stadium on Feb. 25. Chelsea trailed 1-0 after a frustrating first leg at the Riverside last week, but Pochettino’s side was comprehensively dominant (the way you would expect them to be against an EFL Championship side) in the return leg.

It was a tidal wave of early pressure and scoring chances which saw Chelsea race out to a 2-0 lead before the half-hour mark, and never look back. Jonny Howson was charged with an own goal on the opener after Armando Broja fluffed a chance in the 15th minute. Broja miskicked another shooting opoprtunity in the 29th minute, and the ball found its way to Enzo Fernandez, who applied the emphatic finish for 2-0.

Seven minutes later, Axel Disasi jumped a passing lane as Boro played out of the back and continued his long run into the penalty as Raheem Sterling dribbled down the right wing. Sterling eventually crossed for Disasi, who turned home in a fine finish that would make most strikers proud.

Cole Palmer struck from near the penalty spot to make it 4-0 in the 42nd minute before slotting home Chelsea’s fifth in the 77th. Noni Madueke fired the sixth and final goal past Thomas Glover after Conor Gallagher teed him up in the 81st.

Player ratings – Chelsea vs Middlesbrough

Kickoff: 3 pm ET, Tuesday (Jan. 23)
Online: ESPN+

Chelsea starting lineup

Petrovic — Disasi, Silva, Colwill, Chilwell — Caicedo, Fernandez — Palmer, Mudryk, Sterling, Broja

Middlesbrough starting lineup

Glover — Clarke, Fry, Van den Berg, Engel — Crooks, Barlaser, Howson, Hackney — Forss, Rogers