by Chelsea fans probably did not expect their dear team to be tortured together by a right winger who cost Middlesbrough a nominal fee when he was promoted from Tooting and Mitcham five years ago.
But Isaiah Jones is a special talent, with the exception of Levi Colwill’s destabilization, which created the goal scored by the impressive Hayden Hackney that left Riverside celebrating as it did in 2004.
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That winner on the night means Michael Carrick’s mid-table side reach the Stamford Bridge Championship for the second leg of this semi-final in a fortnight’s time defending a potentially crucial lead.
While Mauricio Pochettino’s underachievers in the Premier League are still contenders for promotion, Boro will be hoping to repeat their feat of 20 years ago and emulate Steve McClaren’s class of 2004 by winning the League Cup far from extinguished. It will certainly be unwise for Chelsea to underestimate Jones, let alone fellow Hackney midfielder Dan Barlaser and company for a second time.
“It’s difficult to talk about our performance,” said Pochettino, whose £200m-plus midfield was often second-guessed on a night when Cole Palmer missed a hat-trick chance and veteran defender Thiago Silva was seen struggling apparently with Chelsea. supporters encouraged his team at the final whistle.
“We made some mistakes and were punished. We created some great chances but Middlesbrough play on the counter with a deep block and it was difficult to break them down; we were not clinical enough. But it is only half time of the binding. We have to be positive and go to the final. Of course I’m disappointed but we’re a young team and we have to learn.”
Chelsea came without 10 injured senior players, while their hosts had 12 absent, and Teesside’s casualty list swelled when Emmanuel Latte Lath was substituted after just five minutes.
Carrick’s main attack was hurt by a late, potentially penalty-conceding, awkward challenge from Axel Disasi after he intercepted Colwill’s slapdash header and threatened to score inside the first minute.
When home left-back Alex Bangura pounced on him in the 20th minute, it looked like Boro’s luck was on the line. But in an unexpected silver lining, the Rock changed from a back three to a back four and, albeit inadvertently, that change was crucial.
The main beneficiary was Jones who turned from the fly to the right wing many times, due to the great discomfort of Colwill, from where he often gave up his marking. As soon as the Chelsea left-back looked to step up after picking up a booking for sending Jones crashing out in the 30th minute, the Teessiders felt hope.
With Barlaser getting some good passes, Boro had their own but were living dangerously when Rock’s second-choice goalkeeper Tom Glover made a nervous save before Conor Gallagher headed over the bar.
Pochettino chose not to go for a regular central striker, instead handing that role to Palmer, supported by Gallagher’s constant presence behind him.
Palmer should have opened the scoring after a terrible mistake by Jonny Howson when the ball fell to his left foot, but instead shot wide.
Not to be outdone, Hackney pulled an effort just wide of the target almost immediately. Little did Chelsea know it was just a warm-up before putting Boro ahead.
Colwill had no answer to the quick pace of Jones after picking up a glorious pass from Barlaser and, after effortlessly getting the better of his mark, crossed low to Hackney to side-foot Boro into the lead 37th minute from the edge of the six yard box. .
If Jones was happy to remind everyone that Colwill really is a central defender, it was quite a moment for the Redcar-born Hackney, who joined Boro’s academy at the age of nine.
Palmer should have restored parity before half-time but, when Glover was unable to hold on to Enzo Fernández’s 25-yard shot, it went over the bar from close range.
Chelsea tried to increase the pressure in the second half but Carrick was delighted with the number of interceptions won by the Championship side playing with just the right balance of measured intelligence and high adrenaline commitment.
However, Boro were living dangerously at times and when Malo Gusto crossed and Gallagher swerved, who defended wrongly, Dael Fry came up with an equaliser, but Gallagher directed his shot wide and Pochettino decided it was time for the rider to introduce an attack.
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Mykhailo Mudryk and Armando Broja came on for the often-threatening Fernández and Noni Madueke, with Pochettino deciding to withdraw the latter rather than the less effective Raheem Sterling encouraging powder.
The newcomers helped Chelsea push hard for an equalizer but Boro’s side impressively defended just four points off a second-tier play-off spot and even had their moments at the break.
“He’s as proud as I was,” Carrick said. “It’s very special. We had to suffer to find a way to win. It’s not easy to beat a quality team like Chelsea and it was a good night for us. The boys were very big. We have to enjoy it but the second leg is a whole new ball game; we know the challenge before us.”
