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
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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.
HT - Chelsea 4-0 Middlesbrough
Howson own goal, Fernandez, Disasi, Cole.
Game well and truly turned around in 45 minutes, with Mauricio Pochettino’s side now the same length of time away from Wembley.
More to come in the second half.
HT - Chelsea 4-0 Middlesbrough
There’s the half-time whistle and it has been a dream for Chelsea, a disaster for Middlesbrough.
This semi-final is all-but-decided and the Blues are going to Wembley!
GOAL! 42’ - Chelsea 4-0 Middlesbrough
Well it’s certainly over now!
A mistake at the back with an overhit pass and an overstretch, Cole Palmer sneaks back to win the ball, keeps his composure and rolls it into the net!
Four for the Blues in the first half.
40’ - Chelsea 3-0 Middlesbrough
Chelsea rampant and Fernandez dominating. He’s clattered by Crooks who is booked and that’s about the first time anybody has got close to him.
GOAL! 36’ - Chelsea 3-0 Middlesbrough
Wow! Great move down the right, Disasi has his first goal since the opening day of the season and that might well be the semi-final over and done with.
Disasi wins the ball, Palmer plays it forward and Sterling is in once more - his pass infield is typically accurate and Disasi sweeps home to put the Blues three goals up and within touching distance of the Carabao Cup final already.
32’ - Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough
Worth noting that was Chelsea’s first shot on target, despite it being their second goal. Broja should have scored in both goal moments too, but didn’t really get a shot away properly on either one!
Palmer now frees Enzo for another shot but he doesn’t catch this one as well and it’s saved.
GOAL! 28’ - Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough
No doubts about this goal!
Sterling gets in behind the defence down the Chelsea right, gets to the byline and fires it to Broja; his shot is blocked but Enzo is free behind him and rattles a first-time finish past the ‘keeper and in - that’s 2-0 on the night and Chelsea ahead on aggregate!
24’ - Chelsea 1-0 Middlesbrough
Disasi smacks a shot into a defender, then Palmer slips on the edge of the area. The Blues probing without being too full of guile, and Boro - while not conceding lots of dangerous areas for shots - unable to really escape out of their shape for a while now.
The travelling fans resort to taunting their hosts, but it’s all rather comfortable for those wearing blue at the moment, on and off the pitch.
20’ - Chelsea 1-0 Middlesbrough
Chelsea swarming Boro a litle at the moment and getting plenty of players into attacking positions.
Boro still a threat going forward when they get the chance but it increasingly looks as though it’ll be a case of domination by the home side, and the visitors having to hold on for this half at least.
16’ - Chelsea 1-0 Middlesbrough
Very nearly 1-1 within a minute! A short corner routine is well-worked by Boro and Rodgers cuts in on his right foot, swivels and drills at the bottom near post - Petrovic gets down smartly to save.
Good chance, hands on the head for the Boro man.
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