RAHEEM STERLING’S semi-final goal CURSE is still in tact – despite Chelsea scoring SIX past Middlesbrough to book their place at Wembley.
The winger, 29, was in scintillating form for Chelsea in their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg rout of Middlesbrough.
But despite his brilliant performance Sterling‘s NINE-YEAR wait for a goal will go on.
Sterling had a hand in three goals as the Blues ran riot at Stamford Bridge and could easily have scored himself – but chose the unselfish option.
Sterling grabbed two assists on the night, with the first goal seeing him bare down on goal one-on-one but pass to Armando Broja instead of shoot.
The striker couldn’t miss – but didn’t bank on Boro captain Jonny Howson stealing it off his toe and turning into his own net.
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The second Chelsea goal came from good work by Sterling down the right hand side, playing a one-two with Axel Disasi, whose cut-back was fired home by Enzo Fernandez.
Disasi then got a goal himself, winning possession in midfield and driving forward before latching onto a Sterling cross to turn in the third.
Two goals from Cole Palmer and a Noni Madueke effort made it a brillaint night for the Blues – who will play either Fulham or Liverpool in the final – but the visiting faithful had something to cheer about when Morgan Rogers slotted home late on.
The lack of a Sterling goal means he has not scored in the semi-final stage of ANY tournament since January 2015.
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He was playing in this same competition against Chelsea for Liverpool, scoring the equaliser for the Reds after an Eden Hazard penalty.
Sterling failed to score in the second leg of that clash – with Chelsea winning 1-0 and going on to win the competition, as well as the Premier League, under Jose Mourinho that season.
His goal drought then strecthed a further 21 games and NINE YEARS before waiting for his goal tonight.
The majority of those games came in the Sky Blue of Manchester City, where he failed to score in 15 semi-final matches, including five Champions League ties – four of those against Real Madrid.
There were also three blanks for England – against Croatia at the 2018 World Cup, the Netherlands in the 2019 Nations League and Denmark at Euro 2020.
Sterling has a slightly better record in finals, scoring two goals in the 6-0 FA Cup final win against Watford.
He didn’t score during 120 minutes of the 2019 League Cup win against Chelsea, but Sterling did convert the winning penalty.
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Tom Sheen
