Chelsea 6-1 Middlesbrough: Player ratings as Blues waltz into EFL Cup final
Chelsea saved one of their most ruthless performances of the season to storm into the EFL Cup final, thrashing Middlesbrough 6-1 at Stamford Bridge.
A quartet of goal scorers in the first half knocked the stuffing out of Michael Carrick’s side, who entered the game with a 1-0 advantage from the opening leg of the semi-final.
A Jonny Howson-own goal opened the floodgates in the 15th minute, after which the Blues doubled their lead through some intricate passing down the right. Enzo Fernandez got on the end of a loose ball to give Chelsea the lead for the first time in the tie.
A stellar piece of aggressive play from Axel Disasi led to the third goal, and six minutes later, Stamford Bridge’s brand-new talisman – Cole Palmer – coolly capitalized on a defensive error and struck home the fourth.
He would go on to place his second goal into the back of the net with aplomb, turning in a cutback from Conor Gallagher. And just when it couldn’t get any worse for Boro, Noni Madueke got himself on the scoresheet to round off the joint-largest second leg win in the EFL Cup.
A wonderful curling effort from Morgan Rogers gave the traveling fans something to cheer about as the eventful fixture concluded with the West Londoners winning 6-2 on aggregate.
On that note, here’s a rundown of how each Chelsea player fared in their six-star win over Middlesbrough.
Djordje Petrovic – 8/10
Petrovic continues to be a symbol of calmness between the sticks for Chelsea. He made a smart stop low to his right in the first half and was a spectator for the rest of the game as the Blues took Boro to the cleaners.
Axel Disasi – 7.5/10
Disasi was tidy with the ball at his feet in an unorthodox right-back role. His goal sent Stamford Bridge into raptures on the back off a John Terry-esque aggressive defending high up the pitch, and then sprinting into the box to tap home a simple squared pass from Raheem Sterling.
Thiago Silva – 8/10
Chelsea’s Mr. Dependable was prepared to thwart any form of danger that came his way. Often the last man guarding the goalkeeper, Thiago Silva’s judgment and anticipation, accompanied with accurate defending, meant that the hosts preserved their clean sheet all the while impressing in front of goal.
The pass to Ben Chilwell, alongside other balls over the top of the Boro defense exemplified his range with the ball.
Levi Colwill – 7/10
Back in his favoured left center-back role, Colwill was rapid off the blocks and steady with the ball. A few passes were of a different wavelength from that of the Chelsea attackers, but defensively, Colwill was rather spotless.
Both himself and Ben Chilwell hope Pochettino plays them in their natural roles.
Ben Chilwell – 7.5/10
It was unbelievable to think that until Chelsea’s first goal, Chilwell was out of the side for four months.
He was the best player in the opening exchanges, making runs in dangerous pockets – one of which led to the defense-splitting pass for Chelsea’s first goal – and bombing down the left.
The energy that he brought about lasted until his final kick, and boy have Pochettino’s charges missed that.
Enzo Fernandez – 7/10
Enzo kept things ticking for the home side, especially upfront in winning the ball back and intensifying the final third press. His intelligent run from deep in midfield for the goal underlines his potential as someone arriving at the box from moment to moment.
Second-half substitutions paved the way for him to play in a number six role, and those 20 minutes in the end were enough to explain how good Enzo can be from there.
Moises Caicedo – 7/10
Caicedo is quietly turning into Chelsea’s destroyer at midfield. He wasn’t easily bypassed and sprayed the passes around seamlessly. His partnership with Enzo continues to grow.
Raheem Sterling – 8/10
Raheem Sterling needed the first quarter to get into the game, but once he did, most of the attacks and similar passages originated from the right. He bagged himself an uncomplicated assist, however, the backheel to set an underlapping Disasi through for Enzo’s goal unraveled the Boro defense.
Cole Palmer – 9/10
Palmer wasn’t at his best in terms of his execution, and that could be due to the standards he’s set for himself thus far. He couldn’t always turn his vision into action on the pitch, but that’s what great players do – they chip in with vital goals regardless.
His composure and collected temperament are why he finds himself in double digits for the season. Both his goals were extremely well-taken, almost as if he didn’t break a sweat to score.
Mykhailo Mudryk – 3/10
Not for the first time this season, Mudryk’s moments of brilliance have been far and few between. He huffed and puffed but couldn’t make any sort of impact. Lost possession too often and was rightfully hooked at halftime.
Armando Broja – 4/10
Broja was rewarded with another start in Jackson’s absence, and it’s fair to say he should have done better when Sterling selflessly found him in the 15th minute. It led to a fortuitous own goal, with Broja presented with a chance to take it for the first time.
Substitutes
Noni Madueke – 6.5/10
Madueke, as he has been since returning to the fold, was a breath of fresh air down the right. He wasn’t afraid to take defenders on and the unpredictability he brought to the table kept the visitors guessing.
He chopped inside for his goal and knew exactly what he was doing. He’s been one of Chelsea’s most improved players in recent weeks.
Alfie Gilchrist – 6/10
Young Gilchrist continues to excite the fans with his fearlessness. Slotted in at right-back, his forward-thinking approach complemented Madueke well.
Conor Gallagher – 7/10
Gallagher was dropped from the starting XI but bagged two assists – both perfectly encapsulating his prowess as a passer. He played in Palmer’s position, with the latter operating as an auxiliary number nine.
To drive to the byline and chop back for Palmer was fantastic, and a first-time pass into the path of Madueke for Chelsea’s sixth goal was everything Pochettino demands from one of his deputy skippers – quick, incisive forward passing.
Carney Chukwuemeka – 5/10
It was good to see Chukwuemeka returning to the Chelsea squad and getting a feel of the game.
Leo Castledine – N/A
Huge moment for the 2005-born midfielder, making his Chelsea debut in front of the fans, under comfortable circumstances.
-Roy Akarshak
Twitter: @RoyAkarshak
Photo: Erik Drost. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.