An unfortunate own-goal from defender Seb Hines with only nine minutes remaining was enough to cruelly end Middlesbrough’s impressive Capital One Cup run at the quarter-final stage following a slender 1-0 defeat at Premier League Swansea City.
The crucial moment arrived when Jonathan de Guzman delivered an 81st minute corner which caught the top of Hines’ head and left goalkeeper Jason Steele with no chance.
Danger-man Michu and Nathan Dyer both tried their luck from distance during the early stages as the hosts chased their first-ever appearance in the semi-final of the competition.
But chances were continuing to appear in short supply, although Boro’s Grant Leadbitter did force German keeper Gerhard Tremmel into a full-length save from the edge of the area.
His opposite number Steele was then needed to collect after Ben Davies’ cross was helped on before Leadbitter was at it again when calling Tremmel into further action as the visitors continued to impress.
Another deflected effort from the former Ipswich Town and Sunderland schemer produced more work for Tremmel following the break while Andre Bikey escaped further punishment after bringing down home substitute Luke Moore.
However, the big defender was soon replaced along with Belgian midfielder Faris Haroun as the visitors were required to make a couple of changes past the hour mark.
Swansea were now beginning to press for reward with threats being offered by Moore and the free-scoring Michu until keeper Steele turned de Guzman’s free-kick against his own crossbar.
That served as a warning which then turned into harsh reality as Hines headed the second of two quick corners into his own net for what proved the winner, despite late attempts from George Friend and substitute Ishmael Miller in reply.
Swansea City: Tremmel, Chico, Monk, Tiendalli, Davies, Britton, Michu, Dyer, Routledge (Ki Sung-Yeung 65), De Guzman, Shechter (Moore 55)
subs (unused): Cornell, Bartley, Rangel, Agustien, Graham
Goals: Hines OG (81)
Middlesbrough: Steele, Hoyte, Bikey (Halliday 64), Hines, Friend, Leadbitter (Miller 82), Bailey, Haroun (Smallwood 65), Ledesma, Jutkiewicz, McDonald
subs (unused): Leutwiler, Parnaby, Thomson, Emnes
Ref: Probert
Att: 15,048
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