Anfernee Dijksteel celebrates his first goal in his 132nd appearance for Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough scored three times in 16 minutes to beat Championship rivals Leeds United at Elland Road and reach round two of the Carabao Cup.
After a tight first half, Anfernee Dijksteel was allowed to drift from the right touchline into the box before passing the ball into the corner to put Boro ahead.
With Leeds pushing forward, Josh Coburn released Delano Burgzorg who kept his cool to send a strike which found the net via a deflection off Joe Rodon.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke made five changes in the 65th minute, but soon after Coburn tapped into an empty net to seal Boro’s first win at Elland Road since 2011.
The sides served up 12 goals in their two meetings last season, and a frantic start suggested more of the same.
Boro goalkeeper Sol Brynn stuck out a leg to deny Junior Firpo in the third minute, and moments later Dijksteel flicked a close-range header just wide at the other end, but it proved a false dawn in a cagey first half.
All that changed in a frenetic second half, with Middlesbrough rewarded for a fast start as Anfernee scored a superb opener and then teed up Burgzorg with a golden chance for 2-0, but Leeds keeper Karl Darlow made the block.
Burgzorg redeemed himself with his first goal for the club, and Coburn capped an impressive evening as Leeds were taken apart.
Of Farke’s mass substitution, Joel Piroe had a shot blocked by Matt Clarke at point-blank range and Georginio Rutter’s left-footed strike smacked a post, but only Darlow spared the hosts further punishment, pushing away Coburn’s low shot.
