Insecurity and confusion have made an unintended intrusion into Chelsea’s world, but for the moment at least they show no sign of reaching the pitch.
As an overwhelming fleet of potential buyers waited to learn if they had handed over the keys to Stamford Bridge, an amalgam of sometimes ruthless control and measured efficiency drove Thomas Tuchel’s side into the semi-finals through goals from Romelu Lukaku and the excellent Hakim Ziyech.
Middlesbrough pushed hard for promotion to the Championship and eliminated Manchester United and Tottenham in previous rounds, but despite some decent passes from intelligent play, Chris Wilder’s side rarely managed to discover a visiting defense led by Thiago Silva and Antonio Rüdiger was well done.
With Tuchel’s tempo-controlled play, Wilder’s normally cohesive press game rarely reached its usual heights and excitement was never really feasible. “It was difficult to make it comfortable though,” said Tuchel, who changed his formation to 4-1-4-1 to counter Boro’s pressure. “Middlesbrough were brave and it was never easy. We never let them get in the foot in one foot, but our effort was enormous. We were very disciplined, very serious and showed quality in crucial moments.
The first came in the 14th minute. When Ziyech’s delivery picked up Mason Mount on the right, the mount allowed itself to advance and issue a dangerous, beautifully weighted, low cross for Lukaku, who enters the back of the net with the help of a first-time opponent. , six yards, shot. After winning their nine games at Riverside, Boro were suddenly up against it.
The month, which had a very good match, also created Chelsea’s second goal. As yet another attempt by the Wilder team to push their visitors into the submission, a counter-attack month carried the ball forward before he played in Ziyech and the left foot of his team-mated midfielder did the rest. .
After Neil Taylor was cut, Ziyech marked his 29th birthday by extending his favored foot and sending an audacious, angled 20-yard shot that sits over the thoroughly seduced Joe Lumley’s outstretched fingertips.
“Champions of Europe” were sung by the 700 Chelsea fans gathered in the south-east corner of the pitch who bought tickets before the government imposed sanctions on their club owner Roman Abramovich, preventing any further sale of seats to away fans.
Within minutes, a cremfallen Lumley was saved by Anfernee Dijksteel, the defender’s last shot, impeccable timed, Goalline Clearance, who Lukaku refused a second goal after the Belgian’s false foot of Wilder’s goalkeeper. Since Dijksteel in Boro impressed his three backs, made some important interceptions, it was rather fitting that he, even if briefly, enjoyed a moment in the air.
As the sun set behind the main stand and the sky changed from blue to dark pink, Edouard Mendy remained a peripheral figure as Wilder’s players struggled to break down the formidable barrier built by Silva and Co. Hard as Isaiah Jones, Boro’s talented right back tried, Chelsea defense consistently came second even to his inventive maneuvers. When Wilder’s side finally got a shot, Jonny Howson escaped.
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Chelsea’s continued resistance to tactics, which has angered so many opponents of the second tower, must have left Boro’s manager with the government not giving up on the London club’s plea for increased travel money. . Maybe, just maybe, if they had kept to the original budget and forced Tuchel’s players to travel by bus north instead of flying to Teesside Airport, they might have shown signs of drowsiness as dusk fell. Instead, Ziyech in particular looked increasingly alive.
Wilder’s cause was further hampered by injuries to two components of his back three, which forced the replacement of Dael Fry and then Paddy McNair with 37-year-old Sol Bamba and 35-year-old Lee Peltier. Not that Bamba showed his years as his well-executed tackle between Lukaku came in another goal.
If only Folarin Balogun, Boro’s Arsenal loan striker, had shown similar reassurance after Matt Crooks’ed smart backheel flick fooled Malang Sarr and left him with only Mendy to beat. Balogun could not take advantage of the moment and sent a balloon shot over the bar. When Lumley scraped his goal in Ziyech’s goal by throwing Timo Werner’s header off, Boro fans’ thoughts began to swell on their hopes of a play-off spot.
Nevertheless, her increasingly aggressive side improved as the second half progressed and Mendy had to react to distinguish Duncan Watmore’s threatened cross as teammates pushed it to hit the line.
“There was not a single move and I’m really proud of the players and the club for what was a great cup run,” said Wilder. “But we’re a bit disappointed. It was a bit of a game for us. We almost got the press right, but if you do not get it quite right against Chelsea, they will cut you through. We played world class games and were not overrun. but Thomas’s team showed their quality in the big moments.
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