Fan’s reactions as Chelsea thrashed Middlesbrough 6-1 in Carabao Cup semi-finals

It was goals galore at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night as Chelsea sealed their place in the Carabao Cup final with a 6-1 victory, prevailing 6-2 on aggregate, and Blues fans are buzzing with joy.

Chelsea went into Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Middlesbrough not only with a place in a Wembley final at stake, but also hoping to avoid the embarrassment of failing to make it there ahead of an opponent from the league below.

Boro, who faced Chelsea in the 1997 FA Cup final but have only been a Premier League team for one of the last 15 seasons, opened up a 1-0 aggregate lead a fortnight ago at the Riverside Stadium.

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Optimism that the underdogs might be playing under Wembley’s arch next month was fairly quickly extinguished by a 15th minute own goal from veteran Boro midfielder Jonny Howson. Enzo Fernandez, Axel Disasi and Cole Palmer then ran up the score-line to 4-0 by half-time.

Another from Palmer and a late one from Noni Madueke inflated that to 6-0, before, Aston Villa target Morgan Rogers ensured travelling had at least something to smile about by the end.

Users on X, formerly known as Twitter, had plenty to say as usual, below are some the reactions by fans culled by Infoexpert24:

Chelsea replaced Kai Havertz with Cole Palmer….. Replacing iron with Pure Gold… What an investment ?💥…. Arsenal robbed ….

— KOT OCS👮👮 (@WaruiJohn2) January 23, 2024

Congratulations to Chelsea and Enzo Fernández on reaching the Carabao Cup final with a goal that secured their spot. 🏆🔵 Well done!

— Sarfraz Akram (@SarfrazAkram14) January 23, 2024

Being coached by Ferguson and you lose 6-1 to Pochettino is embarrassing…. Really Carrick?🥲

— KOT OCS👮👮 (@WaruiJohn2) January 23, 2024

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We can’t afford to lose another final to Liverpool. Get that win at all cost

— nkunku’s houseboy🎈 (@iamyourspec) January 23, 2024

After 22 games, Cole Palmer has already scored more goals across all competitions in 2023/24 (10) than any Chelsea player managed in the whole of last season.

Ice Cole into double figures. 🤫 pic.twitter.com/IRZGUSzbha

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 23, 2024

Chelsea is beating Middlesbrough but it’s Manchester United fans feeling the pain 😂😂

— LERRY (@_AsiwajuLerry) January 23, 2024

A lesson in how to turn around a cup tie 🔵

After losing 1-0 away in their semi-final first leg, Chelsea win 6-1 against Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge to book their place in the EFL Cup final! pic.twitter.com/dn8qcMY74r

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— Premier League (@premierleague) January 23, 2024

From Stamford Bridge to Wembley! 😎#CFC | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/AGhHKkAqjL

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 23, 2024

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How Chelsea vs Middlesbrough game unfolded

Though Middlesbrough controlled the opening stages, Chelsea nearly took the lead early on. Thiago Silva’s long ball over the top picked out the run of the returning Ben Chilwell, who beat goalkeeper Thomas Glover to the pass but looped his header over the bar.

The Blues broke the deadlock and tied the score on aggregate on 15 minutes. Chilwell’s adventurous run infield saw him skip past a couple of Middlesbrough defenders and slip in Raheem Sterling. The winger then squared for Armando Broja to tap home, though the Albanian’s first touch was poor and the retreating Jonny Howson appeared to get a telling touch as the ball trickled into an empty net.

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Boro nearly scored almost immediately down the other end via a corner, with Morgan Rogers making his way into the box and firing towards the near post, only to be denied by a low save from Djordje Petrovic.

Chelsea’s second goal came just before the half-hour mark. Sterling’s clever flick found Axel Disasi on the overlap, and though Broja’s shot was miscued from the resulting cross, Enzo Fernandez was on hand to slot the the ball home.

A third soon followed as Chelsea took control of the tie. Disasi won the ball back high up the pitch after a sloppy pass from Matt Clarke and darted towards the penalty area, converting from a low Sterling cross.

There was still time for Chelsea to add a fourth before the break, with Hayden Hackney’s loose pass to Dan Barlaser pounced upon by Cole Palmer on the edge of the Boro box. The Blues’ player of the season so far coolly stroked the ball into the bottom corner.

On the other side of half-time, Levi Colwill went close to grabbing a fifth, lashing a fierce effort narrowly past the post.

Boro nearly shot themselves in the foot when Dael Fry’s first touch on the edge of the six-yard box was stolen Sterling, with the defender recovering in time to deny him an open goal.

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Chelsea’s fifth came courtesy of Palmer, who was on hand to steer in a low cutback from Conor Gallagher after Middlesbrough turned the ball over in their own half.

Substitute Noni Madueke got in on the act with a goal of his own soon after, cutting inside from the right and curling one beyond Glover.

Middlesbrough had the ball in the net courtesy of Matt Crooks, but he was cruelly judged to have been offside when meeting Hackney’s ball over the top.

In the dying minute, Rogers grabbed a legitimate goal to give the traveling fans something to celebrate, drifting inside and picking out the far corner.

But ultimately the night belonged to Chelsea and they’re heading to Wembley for the finals of the Carabao Cup.