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.
Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
63 mins: Mudryk and Broja are on for Madueke and Fernandez.
Madueke’s head went down after that poor cross about 10 minutes ago. Fernandez is taunted with “what a waste of money” as the World Cup winner departs the Riverside pitch.
Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
61 mins: WIDE! Gallagher makes a run into the box and finds room to get the shot away - it’s a hard one, on the stretch and with the ball bouncing, but Gallagher is unable to get it on target as he drags it back and away from goal.
There’s activity on the Chelsea bench, meanwhile. Changes are a coming.
Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
59 mins: It’s Chelsea attack after Chelsea attack now. Gallagher’s cross is claimed by Glover and, before then, Fernandez turned down the chance to bend a shot towards the far post when he cut the pass back to Caicedo, who passed back to Gusto.
Chelsea are... hardly knocking the door down.
Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
56 mins: A goodness... Madueke dances onto his left foot before curling a cross to the back post. Had he looked up, he would have seen there was no one there. There are lots of shrugs and hands being thrown into the air by those in Chelsea blue.
Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
54 mins: Now Madueke takes off down the right, getting to the byline before being squeezed out and sending his cross beyond the back post.
Disasi then, inexplicably, decides to shoot from 30 yards and smashes a shot over. Broja and Mudryk watch on from the bench.
Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
52 mins: Save! Better, more patient build-up from Chelsea, as Sterling links up with Fernandez down the left. Fernandez picks out Madueke in the box but the winger’s header is not powerful enough to trouble Glover.
Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
47 mins: Good start from Middlesbrough! They’ve attacked the wings relentlessly throughout the game and test Chelsea again as Jones gets down the right and swings a ball in towards Colburn. Disasi heads away.
Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
46 mins: Chelsea have won three games in a row since their Christmas Eve defeat to Wolves, a match in which they wasted several chances and lost 2-1.
Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea
45 mins: We’re back and ready to go again at the Riverside! Can Middlesbrough take a lead to Stamford Bridge?
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