League Cup result, final score and reaction
The pressure is on English Premier League side Chelsea as they look to come back from a goal down against Championship outfit Middlesbrough in this Carabao Cup semifinal, second leg clash at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea missed a host of chances in the first leg at the Riverside Stadium, and were made to pay. Hayden Hackney’s first half strike for Boro was the difference between the two teams coming into this decisive second meeting.
Full-back Isaiah Jones and midfielder Jonny Howson are both doubtful for Middlesbrough, while Christopher Nkunku’s absence through injury leaves Armando Broja as the only recognized striker available to Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Manchester United won this competition last season – known as the Carabao Cup since 2017 – but it remains Liverpool who have the most triumphs in history, with nine to their name, one ahead of Man City.
While all 72 clubs from the football league enter from the first round, Premier League teams enter at the second or third round stage, the latter for clubs competing in Europe this season.
The final will be held at Wembley on 25 February, 2024, marking the first chance for both a trophy and a place in next season’s Uefa competitions.
Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
Chelsea FC 6 – 1 Middlesbrough FC
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:53
Match ends, Chelsea 6, Middlesbrough 1.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:53
Second Half ends, Chelsea 6, Middlesbrough 1.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:50
Offside, Middlesbrough. Alex Gilbert is caught offside.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:48
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Alex Gilbert replaces Matt Crooks.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:46
Goal! Chelsea 6, Middlesbrough 1. Morgan Rogers (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from outside the box.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:44
Substitution, Chelsea. Leo Castledine replaces Raheem Sterling.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:42
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Lewis O’Brien.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:41
Offside, Middlesbrough. Matt Crooks is caught offside.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:39
Goal! Chelsea 6, Middlesbrough 0. Noni Madueke (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:36
Goal! Chelsea 5, Middlesbrough 0. Cole Palmer (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Conor Gallagher.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:35
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Matt Clarke.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:33
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Dael Fry.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:33
Attempt blocked. Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:30
Substitution, Chelsea. Carney Chukwuemeka replaces Moisés Caicedo.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:30
Offside, Middlesbrough. Morgan Rogers is caught offside.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:30
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Lewis O’Brien replaces Jonny Howson.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:29
Foul by Thiago Silva (Chelsea).
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:27
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Matt Clarke.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:25
Substitution, Chelsea. Conor Gallagher replaces Armando Broja.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:25
Substitution, Chelsea. Alfie Gilchrist replaces Ben Chilwell.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:25
Rav van den Berg (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:23
Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:23
Offside, Middlesbrough. Matt Crooks is caught offside.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:23
Attempt blocked. Morgan Rogers (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Anfernee Dijksteel.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:21
Enzo Fernández (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:21
Dael Fry (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:18
Thiago Silva (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:17
Foul by Cole Palmer (Chelsea).
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:16
Offside, Middlesbrough. Morgan Rogers is caught offside.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:14
Attempt missed. Enzo Fernández (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:14
Ben Chilwell (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:11
Thiago Silva (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:11
Foul by Thiago Silva (Chelsea).
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:11
Attempt missed. Levi Colwill (Chelsea) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ben Chilwell.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:10
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:09
Delay in match because of an injury Noni Madueke (Chelsea).
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:08
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Matt Clarke.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:04
Second Half begins Chelsea 4, Middlesbrough 0.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
21:04
Substitution, Chelsea. Noni Madueke replaces Mykhailo Mudryk.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:48
First Half ends, Chelsea 4, Middlesbrough 0.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:50
Attempt blocked. Axel Disasi (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ben Chilwell with a cross.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:47
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Jonny Howson.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:43
Goal! Chelsea 4, Middlesbrough 0. Cole Palmer (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:43
Matt Crooks (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:43
Enzo Fernández (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:41
Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:37
Goal! Chelsea 3, Middlesbrough 0. Axel Disasi (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box following a fast break.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:35
Offside, Chelsea. Raheem Sterling is caught offside.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:34
Attempt saved. Enzo Fernández (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Cole Palmer with a through ball.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:30
Goal! Chelsea 2, Middlesbrough 0. Enzo Fernández (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:30
Attempt blocked. Armando Broja (Chelsea) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Axel Disasi.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:25
Attempt blocked. Axel Disasi (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:18
Attempt saved. Morgan Rogers (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Marcus Forss.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:18
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Axel Disasi.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:22
Attempt blocked. Marcus Forss (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:16
Own Goal by Jonny Howson, Middlesbrough. Chelsea 1, Middlesbrough 0.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:14
Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:13
Attempt missed. Ben Chilwell (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Thiago Silva with a through ball.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:10
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Matt Clarke.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:10
Attempt blocked. Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:06
Offside, Middlesbrough. Jonny Howson is caught offside.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:02
Daniel Barlaser (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
20:01
First Half begins.
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough
19:30
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.