Championship: Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday Draw 3-3 at Full Time

In an unforgettable Boxing Day spectacle, Sheffield Wednesday orchestrated a remarkable fightback from three goals down to earn a crucial point against a beleaguered Middlesbrough side reduced to ten men.

Middlesbrough appeared to be on the verge of a comfortable victory after a Ben Doak strike and a brace from Finn Azaz put them 3-0 ahead within the first 30 minutes, dominating the early exchanges.

However, the dynamic shifted dramatically when Danny Rohl’s charges ignited an astonishing comeback, with substitute Svante Ingelsson and Josh Windass netting within a mere nine minutes of the second half.

The tables turned further when Boro’s Rav van den Berg was dismissed for a second yellow card, allowing Yan Valery to head home the equalizer from a Shea Charles corner.

For Middlesbrough, the result sees them drop out of the playoff positions, now sitting three points clear of Wednesday in ninth place, but it’s clear who emerged with greater satisfaction from this encounter.

Sheffield Wednesday strolled into Teesside off the back of their most successful run of the season, having claimed four wins in their last six outings and three successive victories on the road. Yet, they found themselves rocked by Boro’s blistering start in front of a crowd of 32,147—the largest attendance at the Riverside since May.

On-loan Liverpool prodigy Ben Doak showcased his predatory instincts, diving to convert Finn Azaz’s expertly delivered cross for his second goal in 18 appearances, affirming his growing influence at Boro.

Then Azaz, who switched from provider to scorer, doubled the lead with a composed finish into the bottom corner following a slick build-up initiated by Neto Borges. His seventh goal of the campaign was a display of clinical prowess.

Azaz wasn’t done there; he added an eighth as well, instinctively volleying in from close range after Hayden Hackney’s blocked shot fell kindly for him.

With an impressive tally of eight goals and nine assists, Azaz now finds himself among the elite contributors in the Championship, with only Norwich City‘s Borja Sainz matching his output.

The only setback for Boro in that electric opening phase was the loss of Tommy Conway, who was forced off due to injury, which casts a shadow on their otherwise explosive start.

In a daring move, Owls boss Danny Rohl made a pair of tactical changes at half-time, introducing Ingelsson and Nathaniel Chalobah—decisions that quickly altered the course of the match.

Within two minutes of the restart, Ingelsson swept in his first goal in English football, following brilliant approach play from Charles down the right flank.

Windass then painted the ultimate picture of resilience, levelling the scoreline to 3-2 as he deflected a cross from Djeidi Gassama past Sol Brynn at his near post, sending ripples through the Middlesbrough defense.

As the pressure mounted on Michael Carrick’s men, van den Berg compounded their misfortunes by receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Shea Charles—his earlier booking for a similarly reckless challenge on Windass proved crucial.

Brynn’s heroics temporarily held fort against Windass before he was forced off due to an injury, with Tom Glover taking his place as the substitute goalkeeper.

But within moments of Glover’s introduction, Valery flicked home from Charles’ corner, marking his first goal since netting for Southampton in the Premier League back in March 2019.

With a numerical advantage in their favor, Wednesday seized control of the momentum, with captain Barry Bannan and Charles both coming agonizingly close to scoring. Yet, at the other end, James Beadle was called into action to thwart a powerful effort from Emmanuel Latte Lath.

This exhilarating clash leaves both teams with little time to recover, as Middlesbrough braces itself for a challenging encounter against high-flying Burnley come Sunday night, while Wednesday prepares for a trip to Preston North End earlier in the day.

Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick addressed the media, stating:

“There were so many good things in the first half to be in a position like we were in and be in a commanding position going into the second half.

“To let the game unravel and get away from us that quickly, it can’t happen. It’s pretty obvious to say that, but it can’t happen.”

“It went so quickly and we made some bad decisions, didn’t react to it too well and then a couple of deflections and they score the goals, but it can’t happen.”

Sheffield Wednesday’s manager Danny Rohl buoyantly responded:

“Outstanding. How we came back was so strong. The mentality, the belief was there, the trust.

“We made some points at half-time, we changed the shape to 4-1-4-1, it was very helpful, we controlled the midfield more, the players who came on helped us.

“But we should also recognise the first half. In the end, we are happy to come back. It’s not normal against a strong Middlesbrough, who play a fast, attacking style.”