Victory

The Middlesbrough players could clearly feel the weight of the situation. In less than ten minutes, they had fallen behind by two goals to a League Two side—an unthinkable blow.

Notts County's players, on the other hand, celebrated with unrestrained joy at Riverside Stadium. The message was clear: "You looked down on us before the match, now it's time to pay the price!"

Before the kick-off, Loew urged his players not to relax just because they were two goals up. After all, Middlesbrough were a seasoned Premier League team. If they sat back and tried to defend, they might soon lose the advantage.

Alonso, ever the tactical mind, knew the best course of action was to keep pressing. As long as Notts County maintained their offensive momentum, they could exhaust Middlesbrough and keep the initiative firmly in their hands.

The second the whistle blew, Notts County surged forward again, pressing high and denying Middlesbrough even a moment's rest. The intensity of their play did not slow, and Middlesbrough began to buckle under the pressure, abandoning their offensive game to shore up their defense.

David, watching from the sidelines, was astonished at the turn of events. He had expected a tactical battle, but this was turning into a massacre. He figured both teams might head into the halftime break with the scoreline intact, but what unfolded in the final moments of the first half shocked him.

Notts County earned a corner kick just before halftime, and with it came a moment of brilliance. Alonso's corner delivery was perfectly weighted, and Villa, already on fire with two goals to his name, anticipated the ball's flight amidst the crowded penalty area. He rose above the defenders and powered a header past the helpless Schwarzer.

Hat-trick!

Villa couldn't quite believe it. His teammates mobbed him, knocking him to the ground in wild celebration, but even in the frenzy, Villa was stunned. A hat-trick in a League Cup match against a Premier League side—he hadn't expected this.

Luff, thrilled, pumped his fists in the air, but he was almost knocked over by David, who rushed onto the field to join in the jubilant celebrations. The momentum was undeniable now—Notts County was in total control.

The referee, professional as ever, ensured there were two minutes of stoppage time, and those two minutes were an agonizing wait for Middlesbrough. The home fans, stunned into silence, could hardly comprehend what had just happened. The possibility of a comeback seemed more and more unlikely with each passing second.

As the halftime whistle blew, many Middlesbrough supporters began to file out of Riverside Stadium. It was clear they couldn't stomach what had been a near massacre at the hands of a League Two side.

On the opposite side, Notts County's away fans were euphoric, celebrating as if it were Christmas. The joy was overwhelming. For many of them, the match represented more than just an underdog triumph—it was the signal of a new era, one where their team could stand toe to toe with the elite.

Back in the locker room, the Notts County players celebrated exuberantly, as if the game had already been won. Despite Loew's earlier caution, he couldn't help but swallow his own words. The game, barring any unforeseen twist, seemed to be in the bag.

If McLaren had been in Loew's shoes, he would have been thinking about how to manage the squad for the next Premier League fixture. Middlesbrough had clearly conceded this one. The team had already made their tactical shift—Boksic and Paul Ince were replaced by two defensive midfielders, signaling their intent to throw in the towel. The only remaining question was how much more damage Notts County could inflict.

David, ever the provocateur, leaned over to Luff with a smirk. "They've given up now, haven't they? Let's go for the jugular. I think the players would love a proper Riverside massacre."

Loew, though equally keen to exploit the opportunity, also knew that this was about more than just humiliating Middlesbrough. A big scoreline here could do wonders for Notts County's confidence, cementing their belief that they could compete with even the top Premier League sides.

And so, Loew made a bold move. He shifted to a 3-4-3 formation, replacing central defender Westman with Altentop Jr. The team now had three forwards in the box and an attacking intent that could tear through any defense.

McLaren, watching the changes unfold, could hardly believe his eyes. His team had already conceded three goals to a League Two side, and now they were about to face even more offensive firepower. He sat back in disbelief, knowing that his players had given up the game.

Despite Middlesbrough's efforts to shore up their defense, they were overwhelmed in the second half. Notts County's relentless attacking strategy bore fruit, and the scoreline was soon 5-0.

The attacking lineup was unyielding—three forwards pressing on the penalty area, two wingers cutting inside with devastating pace, and midfielders like Alonso and Sneijder, capable of scoring from range, controlling the tempo. Even with Middlesbrough's defense packed tight, it wasn't enough to stop the onslaught.

When the final whistle blew, Notts County's fans were jubilant. Some wept with joy, as they realized they had just witnessed the rise of their team, a moment they had been waiting for for so long.

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