Sheffield Wednesday mounted an incredible second-half comeback to earn a 3-3 draw against 10-man Middlesbrough in a thrilling Boxing Day clash at the Riverside Stadium.
After leading 3-0 inside the first 30 minutes, Boro collapsed under intense pressure, with Danny Rohl’s Owls rallying to secure a share of the spoils. Ben Doak and Finn Azaz, with a brace, had seemingly put Michael Carrick’s side in control. However, Sheffield Wednesday responded with goals from Svante Ingelsson, Josh Windass, and Yan Valery, capitalising on Rav van den Berg’s second-half dismissal to complete the turnaround.
Blistering Start for Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough exploded out of the blocks, showcasing their attacking quality. On-loan Liverpool starlet Ben Doak opened the scoring in the fifth minute, diving to head home Finn Azaz’s pinpoint cross at the back post.
Azaz doubled the lead 10 minutes later with a cool finish from just inside the box, courtesy of a precise pass from Neto Borges. The midfielder’s impressive form continued as he added a second goal in the 30th minute, instinctively volleying home after Hayden Hackney’s blocked shot fell kindly to him.
Despite losing Scotland international Tommy Conway to injury, Boro dominated the first half, thrilling the 32,147-strong crowd, their largest since May 2023.
Second-Half Revival for the Owls
Sheffield Wednesday looked transformed after the break, aided by Rohl’s tactical changes. Substitute Svante Ingelsson made an immediate impact, scoring his first goal in English football just two minutes into the second half. The Swedish midfielder latched onto a Shea Charles delivery to fire past Sol Brynn.
Josh Windass added a second for the visitors in the 54th minute, turning in Djeidi Gassama’s cross at the near post. With momentum firmly on their side, the Owls continued to press and were further buoyed when Van den Berg received a second yellow card for a clumsy foul on Charles.
Moments later, Valery completed the comeback, flicking in Charles’ corner at the near post for his first goal since 2019. Sheffield Wednesday came close to snatching all three points, but substitute goalkeeper Tom Glover and a resilient Middlesbrough defence held firm in the closing stages.
Danny Rohl Delighted
Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl was delighted with his team’s resilience.
“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.”
Writer’s View
This match encapsulated the unpredictability of Championship football. Middlesbrough’s first-half dominance showcased their quality, but their second-half implosion highlighted lingering vulnerabilities. Sheffield Wednesday, meanwhile, displayed remarkable tenacity, leveraging tactical adjustments and a man advantage to salvage a well-earned point. Both teams will need to address inconsistencies as the season intensifies.
