Chelsea thrash Middlesbrough 6-1 to enter League Cup final
The big-spending Londoners had squandered a hatful of chances in the first leg away two weeks ago which Middlesbrough won 1-0
After a dismal first half to the season, Chelsea's 6-1 thumping of Middlesbrough in their semi-final second leg on Tuesday gave coach Mauricio Pochettino some much-needed comfort and advanced Chelsea to the League Cup final.
The high-rolling Londoners had missed a host of opportunities in the away first leg two weeks before, which Middlesbrough won 1-0.
However, Tuesday's match highlighted the disparity in caliber between the English Premier League team and their lower-division opponents, as the match ended 6-2 overall.
Due to injuries, Middlesbrough was without many important players and was unable to replicate their first leg's defensive heroics. They fell down 4-0 at halftime, having let captain Jonny Howson to score an own goal in the 15th minute.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer scored twice in the 42nd and 77th minutes as the Blues' deft, fluid passing style saw them run laps around their opponents.
"I missed three sitters in the first game so it was always in the back of my mind coming into this game," Palmer said to Sky Sports.
Noni Madueke, Axel Disasi, and Enzo Fernandez were all included on the scorecard.
