In a surprising turn of events, Chelsea faced a 1-0 setback against second-tier Middlesbrough in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final clash on Tuesday. Hayden Hackney’s well-executed goal in the 37th minute, assisted by Isaiah Jones, provided Mauricio Pochettino’s squad with a challenging deficit to overcome in the return leg.
Despite dominating possession, Chelsea found themselves trailing as they squandered numerous scoring opportunities. Notably, Cole Palmer failed to find the target twice in the opening half, contributing to the London side’s frustrations. The hosts defended admirably at the Riverside Stadium, securing a slender advantage to take to Stamford Bridge.
Boro, the 2004 trophy winners currently positioned 12th in the Championship, capitalized on counter-attacks, creating additional chances to extend their lead. While Chelsea’s players faced criticism from some of their own fans, particularly at the final whistle, they remain optimistic about turning the tide in the second leg scheduled for Jan. 23. The other semi-final sees Liverpool hosting Fulham on Wednesday.
Pochettino acknowledged the team’s mistakes, highlighting defensive lapses and missed opportunities in the first half. Despite the challenges faced by Michael Carrick’s injury-ravaged Boro, Chelsea struggled to capitalize on their 18 goal attempts, emphasizing their ongoing struggles in front of goal and defensive vulnerabilities.
“We made some mistakes in the first half and gave them chances to score,” Pochettino commented in a post-match interview. “But we have another 90 minutes, and we need to be positive.”
For Carrick and the passionate home crowd, the victory against a team of Chelsea’s caliber was a remarkable achievement. The former Manchester United midfielder expressed satisfaction with the team’s exceptional effort amid injuries and setbacks.
“I know it’s a two-legged affair, and it’s still all to play for, but with all we’ve had to go through with injuries and setbacks to beat a team with Chelsea’s quality is unbelievable,” Carrick remarked.
Chelsea, currently navigating a challenging season under Pochettino, will aim to rectify their performance in the second leg, facing the uphill task of overcoming Boro’s resilient defense and turning the tide in their favor.
