Lukaku and Deulofeu on target as Everton brush aside Middlesbrough to reach League Cup semi-finals

Everton are through to the semi-finals of the League Cup for the first time in seven seasons after beating Middlesbrough 2-0 at the Riverside Stadium this evening.

There were no chances in the opening 15 minutes and Boro were the first side to fire an attempt at goal as Stewart Downing’s free kick was clawed away by Joel Robles.

From the resulting corner, the home fans were on their feet as Christian Stuani bundled the ball home, but the referee blew for a foul on Robles. Everton went ahead two minutes later as Gerard Deulofeu skipped past two weak challenges before guiding the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.

The winger then laid on Everton’s second goal nine minutes later as he crossed for Romelu Lukaku, who muscled himself in front of Fernando Amorebieta to head past Tomas Meijas.

Despite ending the first half strongly, Boro went into the interval 2-0 down as Robles saved Stuani’s shot from a tight angle before Kike sent a lob narrowly wide.

The hosts seemed determined to reduce the deficit after the break and Adam Forshaw sent a dipping strike narrowly wide before Downing stung the palms of Robles with a left-footed shot. Stuani then nodded over the bar from Emilio Nsue’s cross as Boro continued to press for a goal.

However, Everton held them at arm’s length to ease through the final minutes and reach the last four of the competition.