EFL Cup: Stoke thrash Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough 0 - 5 Stoke City
Stoke City shocked Championship rivals Middlesbrough with a stunning 5-0 victory, securing their place in the Carabao Cup third round.
The Potters' 18-year-old striker, Emre Tezgel, took advantage of sloppy defending by the hosts to calmly slot in an early opener.
Middlesbrough fell apart in the second half, conceding four goals in a chaotic 12-minute spell, marking the sixth time they've been beaten by a five-goal margin at home.
Ryan Mmaee scored from close range before Lewis Koumas arrived unmarked at the far post, and substitute Million Manhoef added two goals in just seven minutes after coming on.
Middlesbrough, who made nine changes from their weekend draw against Portsmouth, had a chance to take the lead early on. Josh Coburn found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper but dragged his shot narrowly wide.
Stoke broke the deadlock when Koumas and Andrew Moran combined to set up Tezgel, who had plenty of time and space to control the ball and coolly find the back of the net.
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Tezgel could have doubled Stoke's lead moments later but missed the target, while at the other end, Alex Gilbert scuffed a shot when well placed for Boro.
The home side came close to equalising when Sonny Finch volleyed a cross from the right, forcing a sharp save from Stoke's goalkeeper, Viktor Johansson.
Stoke came flying out of the blocks in the second half, with Mmaee calmly slotting past Boro keeper Sol Brynn. Before Michael Carrick's side could regroup, Koumas tapped in Eric Bocat's dangerous cross.
Manhoef curled in a superb strike just three minutes after entering the pitch and added his second four minutes later, weaving through the Boro defence and scoring at the near post.
The last time Middlesbrough conceded five goals at the Riverside Stadium was in a 5-1 defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup third round in January 2023. They have now suffered a five-goal loss at home on six occasions, the previous being a 5-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion 15 years ago.
