Five months after the start of the season, Chelsea were already playing the game of the season. After reaching Carabao Cup semifinal, the Blues were in the best possible position to win any trophy this season, but they lost the first leg in Middlesbrough 1-0. So, the pressure was big at Stamford Bridge tonight as a possible second defeat in a row from a second-league team would cause a crisis in London. But Mauricio Pochettino’s men rose to the occasion and crushed ‘Boro 4-0 on their way to Wembley and a final game, where they will face either Fulham or Liverpool.It was a nervy game from Chelsea, considering the stakes were high and the team is young, but it only lasted for about 15 minutes. After that, goals just kept coming and former Manchester United and now Middlesbrough coach Michael Carrick will not be pleased by the way his team played and ‘helped’ Chelsea to score the first goal. The tradition was on the side of the hosts, who were unbeaten in their last 21 home games against Middlesbrough in all competitions, and they also have won 15 of their last 16 Carabao Cup home games against sides from a lower division.But they started nervously with plenty of unprecise passes, but after a Chillwell’s pass to Sterling, Broja got the ball, and while he tried to aim to the goal, Howson ran into the ball and diverted it to the goal for an early lead. Another Broja miss minutes later also led to a second goal, as the ball somehow managed to get to Fernandez, and he made on mistake, 2-0, after only half an hour. From that moment on, it was all Chelsea and the Blues finished off the game in the next 15 minutes with two more goals from Disasi and Palmer. Coach Carrick could only try to prevent his side from getting smashed with five or more goals, but the Blues didn’t put the foot off the pedal in the second period and scored two more. First it was Palmer with another goal, before Madueke made it 6-0. Morgan Rogers scored the consolation goal for the guests for the final 6-1. EFL CUP – SEMIFINALTuesday Chelsea – Middlesbrough 4-0 (4-0)/Howson (og) 15, Fernandez 29, Disasi 36, Palmer 42/Wednesday 23.00: (4.90) Fulham (3.60) Liverpool (1.75)***odds are subject to change
