Boro hit for six in second leg as Chelsea book their spot at Wembley

Chelsea put defeat in their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Middlesbrough behind them to book a first Wembley appearance since 2022 with a ruthless 6-1 win at Stamford Bridge last night.

Four first-half goals for Mauricio Pochettino's side effectively ended the tie as a contest as a Jonny Howson own goal and strikes from Enzo Fernandez, Axel Disasi and Cole Palmer showed a clinical side to Chelsea rarely seen this season.

Noni Madueke and a second from Palmer wrapped up an emphatic comeback late on, before Morgan Rogers gave travelling Boro fans a reason to cheer two minutes from time.

By then, the hosts had long since ensured their place in the final, a 6-2 aggregate win ensuring they will face either Liverpool or west London rivals Fulham on February 25.

Chelsea winger Palmer is already looking forward to next month’s showpiece. "After the first game, we knew it'd be difficult but to get the win and go to Wembley for the first time this season, it's going to be a good day,” he said.

"I missed three sitters in the first game so it was always in the back of my mind coming into this game. To score two and go through to Wembley, I'm happy. We've not had the best of starts, there is no hiding it but to go to Wembley is a great opportunity to get a trophy and we're looking forward to it."

It was a record-breaking performance from Chelsea, too. The 6-1 thumping was the largest winning margin in the second leg of a League Cup semi-final, beating Liverpool's 5-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace back in 2001.