Eight minutes of madness in Everton’s defence, eight minutes for Boro to take advantage and book a spot in the FA Cup semi-final.
Suddenly Steve McClaren’s improving side were 90 minutes away from a place in Europe as Boro continued their charge through the rounds of the FA Cup.
The win over Everton took the tally of Premier League clubs Boro had sent tumbling in that year’s competition to three - and they were yet to concede a goal along the way.
Everton never really looked capable of bringing Boro’s cup run to an end on this day in 2002.
The opening goal on 35 minutes was exactly what the hosts deserved after dominating the opening half against the Merseysiders.
But rather than coast into the break a goal to the good Boro went for the jugular, adding two more goals before the break, all but putting the tie to bed by half-time.
First Noel Whelan, then Szilard Nemeth, then Paul Ince. The Riverside was bouncing, the visitors were stunned.
For McClaren, welcoming his side into the dressing room three goals up was not something he had envisaged - but he wasn’t complaining.
“It was a weird situation, going in at half-time three goals up,” he told the Gazette.
“You hardly know what to say to the players in those situations because they have already done the hard work.
“It’s unusual because our games have been very tight. When you go one-up you always look for the second and third goals and this time we got them.”
It would be Arsenal up next once the Gunners had got the better of Newcastle United at the second time of asking, but in dumping Manchester United out in the earlier rounds, Boro had already demonstrated they could cause any side no end of problems on their day.
McClaren insisted Boro’s priority remained Premier League survival but the FA Cup run was a welcome distraction.
The players could only gain confidence from such assured and impressive performances and although they came up short against Arsenal at the next stage, Boro once again stepped up when it mattered with an admirable display.
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