Boro 3 Chelsea 0, February 11 2006
CHELSEA arrived with just one defeat in 54 games and left after suffering their heaviest defeat for almost four years.
An inspired performance saw Boro become the first British side to score three past Jose Mourinho's Chelsea. The champions had not lost this heavily since a 3-0 reverse against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on April 24 2002.
Boro got off to the best possible start, taking the lead with 77 seconds played.
Fabio Rochemback put Geremi under immediate pressure after the Chelsea man received a throw midway inside his own half. Yakubu took possession and returned the ball to the Brazilian who looked to have missed s shooting chance when delaying inside the Chelsea penalty area, but a low shot from 15 yards rolled under the outstretched arms of Cech and in.
Chelsea's movement on and off the ball was impressive, Frank Lampard and Eidur Gudjohnsen in particular causing problems, but Boro, through Rochemback, Morrison and Downing, closed and harried and stood firm.
A fine ball from Rochemback went across the edge of the Chelsea penalty area, Gaizka Mendieta dummied allowing the ball to run. The visitors were suddenly on the back foot, Downing took control and low shot right-footed from the edge of the penalty area had Cech at full-stretch to turn round.
Right across the park Boro were crunching into every challenge, responding to the manager's plea of at least giving it a go.
It wasn't until the 32nd minute that Chelsea had a shot on goal, Mark Schwarzer doing well to parry then gather a swerving Lampard effort despatched from 20 yards.
A few minutes later Essien let fly with a vicious, low swerving shot from 25 yards. Schwarzer seemed deceived by the movement and could only parry at full-stretch but he recovered well to deny Hernan Crespo one-handed virtually on the goal line as the Argentinian looked certain to score.
Morrison was eventually forced to leave the game seven minutes from half-time, limping off to be replaced by George Boateng, who was given a hero's reception as he took part in a game for the first time in almost two months.
Chris Riggott was close with a header when he connected with a left-wing free-kick five minutes from time but a minute from the break the roof lifted off the Riverside as Boro increased their lead.
A neat move saw the ball played out to Stewart Downing, whose low shot, with the aid of a sweet dummy from Mendieta, flew into Cech's bottom left-hand corner, the goalkeeper well and truly beaten. It was the first time since the opening game at the Riverside that Boro had put two past Chelsea and only the third time this season the visitors had conceded two in a game.
Jose Mourinho made two changes at half-time, replacing Joe Cole and Geremi with Carlton Cole and Sean Wright-Phillips.
Yakubu was having an inspired afternoon and after 68 minutes scored a goal which saw become the first British side to score three past Mourinho's Chelsea and the first side at all since Bayern Munich on April 12 2005.
A long goal-kick saw Yakubu take possession midway inside the Chelsea half. He ran to the edge of the penalty area, cut inside and planted a low drive away to Cech's right.
Minutes later Yakubu was away again with just Cech to beat but was called back by an incorrect linesman's flag.
'Can we play you every week?' and 'Are you Sunderland in disguise?' roared Boro fans who seven days ago had just about seen the bottom fall out of their world.
It almost got better as seven minutes from time Rochemback, playing by far his best game yet in a Boro shirt, shot just up from the right-hand edge of the Chelsea penalty area, Cech needing to make a flying save.
TEAMS
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer; Parnaby, Riggott, Southgate (Capt), Pogatetz, Morrison (Boateng 38), Mendieta (Davies 90), Doriva, Rochemback, Downing, Yakubu (Hasselbaink 90). Unused subs: Jones (gk); Maccarone.
Chelsea: Cech; Geremi (Wright-Phillips 46), Carvalho, Terry (Capt), Gallas (Maniche 17), Gudjohnsen, J Cole (C Cole 46), Lampard, Essien, Robben, Crespo. Unused subs: Cudicini (gk); Huth.
REFEREE: Steve Bennett, Orpington, Kent.
BOOKINGS
Middlesbrough: None
Chelsea: Terry, 42, foul on Mendieta; Gudjohnsen, 45, foul on Rochemback; Carvalho, 90, dissent.
ATTENDANCE 31,037
CONDITIONS Bright with very cold breeze
WEBSITE BORO MAN OF THE MATCH Yakubu
