Mason Mount was instrumental in Chelsea’s victory over Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.
Chelsea did the job in the first half and emerge from the Riverside Stadium with a 2-0 win, extending both their winning run and their clean sheet streak against Middlesbrough.
Lukaku’s goal after just 15 minutes added to the visitors’ sense of comfort as they were able to further settle into the match and pass calmly around Boro’s press.
The lead was doubled 16 minutes later thanks to Ziyech’s strike from a distance, which gave Tuchel’s side an unassailable lead.
Wilder’s side was disappointing in the loss, failing to trouble Mendy with less than 40 per cent possession despite being behind for more than an hour.
The cup run ends for Middlesbrough while Chelsea advance to the semi-finals.
Starting Lineup:
MIDDLESBROUGH XI (3-5-2): Joe Lumley; Dael Fry, Paddy McNair, Anfernee Dijksteel; Neil Taylor, Marcus Tavernier, Jonny Howson, Matt Crooks, Isaiah Jones; Aaron Connolly, Folarin Balogun.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Josh Coburn, Luke Daniels, Lee Peltier, Marc Bola, Duncan Watmore, Caolan Boyd-Munce, Sol Bamba, Grant Hall, Yotosi Olusanya.
CHELSEA XI (3-4-2-1): Edouard Mendy; Cesar Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger; Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, Malang Sarr; Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic; Romelu Lukaku.
CHELSEA SUBS: Harvey Vale, Marcus Bettinelli, Timo Werner, N’Golo Kante, Kenedy, Kai Havertz, Trevoh Chalobah, Marcos Alonso, Ross Barkley.
Goals:
CHELSEA, TAKE THE LEAD! 1-0! Ziyech’s pass down the right again plays Mount into space after Middlesbrough’s press breaks down. The England international dribbles into the penalty area and fires a low cross to the edge of the six-yard box, where Lukaku turns the ball into the goal casually.
CHELSEA DOUBLE THEIR ADVANTAGE! 2-0! A bizarre trajectory unexpectedly takes Ziyech’s shot skipping over the outstretched glove of Lumley after the winger cuts inside and fires a wicked dipping shot from outside the penalty area.
So, what’s next?
There’s little doubt that Tuchel will want his side to control the tempo of the second half and limit Middlesbrough’s chances – keeping the clean sheet intact.
With international football putting a pause on domestic action for the next two weeks.
Wilder will not be concerned with the freshness of his squad as he continues to search for an answer.
Expect Watmore to be introduced into the side after the restart and Coburn, who scored the winner against Tottenham last round.
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