With the bidding deadline shut for Chelsea, all eyes turned to their FA Cup quarter-final clash with Middlesbrough. Despite the unprecedented sanctions placed on the team, Thomas Tuchel’s men have been on a hot run of form as they have won their last five games and, more impressively, have only lost once since the January 15 defeat to Manchester City. A 2-0 win saw Chelsea advance to the semi-final of the FA Cup and continue their run of good form.
Chelsea Advance Following Win over Middlesbrough
Chelsea Class Proves Too Much
Middlesbrough set out to play their game. They pressed high, they played out from the back, and they showed no fear in the face of the reigning world champions. This proved to be their downfall as Chelsea’s class was on full display to escape the press and create chances with the space provided.
Mason Mount especially was great at pulling defenders all over the place by making runs down the channel while Romelu Lukaku occupied the defence’s time. Chelsea found it relatively easy to carve out chances throughout the game and they will feel they should have scored more than just two goals. It was the aforementioned Lukaku who opened the scoring with a tap-in following a beautiful low cross from Mount that anyone could have converted. Hakim Ziyech followed up in the 31st minute and doubled Chelsea’s lead.
Middlesbrough Fight to the End
Credit must go to Middlesbrough who kept the energy and intensity up until the very end of the match. It almost paid off for them too as they had some good chances in the second half but couldn’t convert to make Chelsea sweat. Middlesbrough’s crowd was loud and proud to the end so it might be to Chelsea’s benefit that the lead wasn’t halved as the molten hot crowd would have propelled its side to something special.
With this win, Chelsea advance to the semi-final and move one step closer to another trophy.
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