Soccer-Chelsea thrash Middlesbrough 6-1 to reach League Cup final

Soccer Football - Carabao Cup - Semi-Final - Second Leg - Chelsea v Middlesbrough - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - January 23, 2024 Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino with Chelsea's Cole Palmer and Middlesbrough's Morgan Rogers after the match REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

LONDON (Reuters) -Chelsea reached the League Cup final with a 6-1 thrashing of Middlesbrough in their semi-final second leg on Tuesday, providing coach Mauricio Pochettino a measure of relief after a poor first half to the season.

The big-spending Londoners, who lie a lowly ninth in the Premier League, had squandered a hatful of chances in the first leg away two weeks ago which Middlesbrough won 1-0.