Chelsea fans probably did not expect their expensively assembled team to be tortured by a right-winger who cost Middlesbrough a nominal fee when he made the step up from Tooting and Mitcham five years ago.
Yet Isaiah Jones is a special talent who, quite apart from destabilising Levi Colwill, created the goal scored by the impressive Hayden Hackney that left the Riverside celebrating like it was 2004.
That winner on the night means Michael Carrick’s mid-table Championship side will arrive at Stamford Bridge for the second leg of this semi‑final in a fortnight’s time protecting a potentially vital lead.
Although Mauricio Pochettino’s Premier League underachievers remain favourites to progress, Boro’s hopes of repeating their feat of 20 years ago and emulating Steve McClaren’s class of 2004 by winning the League Cup are far from extinguished. Chelsea will certainly be unwise to underestimate Jones, not to mention Hackney’s fellow midfielder Dan Barlaser and company for a second time.
“It’s difficult to talk about our performance,” said Pochettino, whose £200m-plus midfield were often second‑guessed on a night when Cole Palmer missed a hat-trick of chances and the veteran defender Thiago Silva was spotted apparently arguing with angry Chelsea supporters who booed his team off at the final whistle.
“We made some mistakes and were punished. We created some big chances but Middlesbrough play on the counterattack with a deep block and were difficult to break down; we weren’t clinical enough. But it’s only half‑time of the tie. We need to be positive and go to the final. Of course I’m disappointed but we are a young team and need to learn.”
Chelsea arrived without 10 injured senior players, while their hosts had 12 absentees, and that Teesside casualty list increased when Emmanuel Latte Lath was helped off after only five minutes.
Carrick’s main striker had been hurt by a contentious, potentially penalty conceding, late challenge from Axel Disasi after intercepting Colwill’s slapdash header and threatening to score within the first minute.
When the home left-wing back Alex Bangura then hobbled off in the 20th minute, fortune seemed to be frowning on Boro. Yet in an unexpected silver lining Carrick switched from a back three to a back four and, albeit inadvertently, that revamp proved pivotal.
The main beneficiary was Jones who, to Colwill’s considerable discomfiture, morphed from wing-back to right-winger from where he frequently unnerved his marker. Once Chelsea’s left-back needed to watch his step after collecting a booking for sending Jones crashing in the 30th minute, the Teessiders sensed hope.
With Barlaser delivering some decent through passes, Boro held their own but lived dangerously when Tom Glover, Carrick’s second‑choice goalkeeper, punched nervously before Conor Gallagher volleyed over the bar.
Pochettino had opted not to field a conventional central striker, instead handing that role to Palmer, supported by Gallagher’s on-rushing presence behind him.
Palmer should have opened the scoring following a dreadful mistake by Jonny Howson when the ball fell to his left foot, but instead shot wide.
Not to be outdone, Hackney almost immediately dragged an effort slightly off target. Little did Chelsea know he was merely warming up before propelling Boro into the lead.
Colwill had no answer to Jones’s rapid change of pace after meeting a glorious pass from Barlaser and, having outmanoeuvred his marker with ease, crossed low for Hackney to side‑foot Boro into a 37th‑minute lead from the edge of the six‑yard box.
If Jones had relished reminding everyone that Colwill is really a central defender, it represented 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 could not hold Enzo Fernández’s 25‑yard shot, he instead volleyed over the bar from close range.
Chelsea attempted to increase the second-half pressure but Carrick looked delighted by the number of interceptions won by a Championship side playing with just the right balance between measured intelligence and high adrenaline commitment.
Even so, Boro lived dangerously at times and when Malo Gusto crossed and Gallagher’s swivel wrong-footed Dael Fry an equaliser beckoned, but Gallagher directed his ensuing shot wide and Pochettino decided it was time to introduce the attacking cavalry.
On came Mykhailo Mudryk and Armando Broja for Fernández and the often threatening Noni Madueke, with Pochettino’s decision to withdraw the latter rather than the less effective Raheem Sterling provoking puzzlement.
The newcomers helped Chelsea to push hard for an equaliser but a Boro side only four points off a second‑tier playoff place defended magnificently and even had their moments on the break.
“It’s as proud as I’ve been,” 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 such a good night for us. The boys were immense. We have to enjoy it but the second leg is a whole new ball game; we know the challenge we are walking into.”
