By Sogeyinbo Abdulrahmon Olabanji(SIWES student, Gate Way ICT Polytechnic)
In a surprising turn of events, Middlesbrough secured a 1-0 lead against Chelsea in the League Cup semi-final first leg.
Hayden Hackney’s goal on 38 minutes proved decisive, highlighting Chelsea’s struggles away from home.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed frustration over the team’s lack of clinical finishing, emphasizing the need to overturn the deficit in the second leg on January 23 at Stamford Bridge.
Despite facing early injuries, Middlesbrough’s boss, Michael Carrick, praised his team’s resilience against the expensively assembled Chelsea lineup.
The unexpected victory shattered Chelsea’s nine-game winning streak against Middlesbrough, setting the stage for an intense second-leg clash.
