Hakim Ziyech sinks Middlesbrough to send Chelsea into FA Cup semi-final

Uncertainty and confusion have made an unwelcome intrusion into Chelsea’s world but, for the moment at least, they show no signs of encroaching on to the pitch.

As a bewildering number of prospective buyers waited to learn if they might be handed the keys to Stamford Bridge, a mixture of occasionally ruthless control and measured efficiency propelled Chelsea into the semi-finals courtesy of goals from Romelu Lukaku and the excellent Hakim Ziyech.

Middlesbrough are pushing hard for promotion from the Championship and eliminated Manchester United and Tottenham in earlier rounds, but despite some decent periods of intelligent play, they rarely succeeded in unhinging a visiting defence marshalled by Thiago Silva and Antonio Rüdiger.

Middlesbrough kicked off exhibiting the sort of quiet confidence befitting a side that had won their previous nine home games but their reasons for optimism were dented after 14 minutes.

When Ziyech’s delivery picked out Mason Mount wide on the right, the latter was allowed to advance and unleash a beautifully weighted low cross for Lukaku to sweep into the back of net courtesy of a first-time shot from six yards.

“Champions of Europe, we know who we are,” chanted the 700-odd Chelsea fans gathered in the south-east corner of the ground. That select band had bought tickets before the government imposed sanctions against their club’s departing owner, Roman Abramovich, preventing any further sales of seats to away supporters.

Mount created Chelsea’s second goal, too. This time Middlesbrough’s attempt to press their guests into submission broke down, resulting in a counterattack featuring Mount running with the ball before playing in Ziyech and watching his fellow midfielder’s left foot do the rest.