OPERATION Riverside: the most catastrophic attempt to smash the Red Army since Hitler launched Barbarossa.
It was a great PR stunt and refreshing to see the club invest in their travelling support. That will reap future goodwill but ultimately it just meant there were more of them there to see their side steam-rollered.
There were 5,000 Charlton fans in the Riverside and they were making a right racket. Early on at least. But it was jubuilant Boro fans that were left celebrating another thriling four goal display by our heroes and rushing back to the war room to plan operations Brum, Bucharest and beyond.
Charlton had arrived on 48 free coaches, a cheapo train and three £50 a shot charter flights and many had invested their savings on alcohol. They had been buzzing for an hour before the first Boro fans even arrived. It was like coming home from and finding a stranger in your favourite armchair, wearing your slippers and drinking your cherished bottle of Wembley ale.
I can't remember the last time the away fans took up an entire end. Liverpool in the Coca Cola semi-final back in 1998 maybe. The massive wall of noise from travellers was a regular event at Ayresome Park for big games, although big games back then were usually long before this stage and usually ended in frustrating defeat.
Ten minutes before kick-off there was a fantastic atmosphere with both sides roaring out their battle hymns. Sat in the press box bang on the half way there was a sweet spot of schizophrenic stereo with Boro belting out a passionate 'Whose That Team' full pelt in the left ear and the Addicks a cacophony of cockney chorus in the right. If only it could be like this every week.
The teams came out and colour was added to noise as the Charlton threw hundreds of thousands of pieces of ticker-tape in the air, phosphorescent clouds sparkling in the floodlights. It looked excellent and is a neat trick to be borrowed for the semi-final showdown with Bucharest.
As the teams were being read out Charlton sounded loud. Really loud. Louder than any away fans ever at the Riverside. Each of their heroes was greeted with a cheer and underlined by their drum section. But then the Boro team was announced and there was a tsunami of sound sweeping down from the North and crashing over the visitors. Now that's what you call LOUD!.
What an atmosphere. Seventies retro. Even further back in time may, to a fabled time of full houses and non-stop support and home on the M bus for a tanner. It is like dipping into the big bag of 'jumpers for goalposts' football cliches. I half expected to see flat caps thrown in the air if we scored, young boys passed over heads down to the front and feel my jacket pocket get very warm and wet.
Charlton start well as Mark Schwarzer gets down to block superbly with his feet at his near post from Darren Bent in an echo of his wonder save in Roma and the Athletic fans make the early running.
But on 11 minutes Boro score and the Riverside explodes. Fabio Rochemback sends a 30 yard free-kick fizzing through the box and a late bounce fools the diving keeper - Braziliant! Everyone goes mental and gleeful Teessiders jump and scream and squeal and hug and punch their neighbours in jubilant celebration.
There are more arms in the air than an Italian mass surrender. Even the normally staid West Stand dissolves into emotion. The ticket free-for-all has given it a different demographic than usual - there is a lot more swearing and Doggy Market bling on show for one thing - but among the chaos the regular's flasks and tartan rugs go flying too.
After the ecstatic private party Boro fans turn their attention to the visitors. The goal had hit the mute switch and Boro roar a quick burst of fate-tempting terrace provocation "You're Not Singing Anymore." Naturally, within two minutes it was Boro mouths zipped as Hughes struck a leveller.
For a spell play was frantic and scrappy but mainly around the Charlton box as Boro stormed forward urged on by nervous yelps and screams but then Boro were back in front on 26 minutes with a part-scruffy, part-sublime strike as after a scramble in the box a defender generously poked into the path of unmarked James Morrison and he slotted home calmly from close range then the Riverside erupts in a delirious dance of joy once more.
After the early hysteria the atmosphere had settled on a plateau of low level white noise, a tropical background animal hum. But it is punctuated with distinctive aural peaks, an insistent surround sound roar when Boro are on the offensive and a more sporadic behind the rat-tat-tat of the drums as Charlton make rare raids. There is far more of Boro in the mix as Boro build up head of steam, tearing forward as if it was still the Basel match and cavalier attacking was the order of the day.
The half-time concourse buzz is upbeat but far from complacent. We've got them by the jugular; Jimmy is on fire; there's more goals in this. The teams come out to a structure shaking rendition of Pigbag and then with early efforts from Jimmy and Morrison the volume from three-quarters of the ground goes off the dial.
Charlton fans wake up on 56 minutes as Chris Riggott stretches to cut out a wayward shot and almost screws it into his own net but their own cheers are almost masked by the audible sigh of relief from Teesside.
There is surge of optimism from the North Stand. Boro were attacking almost constantly now and, sensing another famous cup triumph, they rattle off a few taunts: 'Geordies at home, watching The Bill', 'Small Town in Europe" and - not learning the lesson of the first half - 'Shall We Sing A Song For You."
The Charlton fans are nervous. They need a goal fast and their team look toothless. Boro are piling forward and Stewninho weaves in from the left and sends a shot dipping over. Then all hell breaks loose with three goals in four minutes to swing the game decisively Boro's way and set up an historic week of destiny.
First, on 73 minutes Bang! A neat move finds Jimmy on the edge of the box and he thunders home a low drive to put Boro 3-1 up and sitting pretty - then again Charlton strike before the EIO is even over as a long free-kick bounces in a crowded box and Chris Perry's close range shot is parried by Schwarzer but comes back off Gareth Southgate's chest for an own goal that gives the cockneys a lifeline.
Here we go, typical Boro. Watch us blow it. But just as the negative old instincts start to creep back Boro hit back with a fourth to seal it on 77 minutes as Mark Viduka skips into the box and rifles in.
Boro are assured and commanding and the Red Army are getting cocky and ready to celebrate as the whistle creeps nearer. The Charlton supporters look dispondent. Cruel Boro fans add to their agony with a dismissive chorus of "You came for free, now push off home". Or words to that effect.
The cockneys left empty-handed and with the Boro fans’ wickedly funny but foul-mouthed assessment of their value for money travel arrangements and impending journey south ringing in their ears.
And by journey south we are not talking about Teesside’s best loved chart-topping reality show fraternal popsters but the long haul back through the night to London having been soundly thrashed by mighty double chasing Boro.
Yessssssssss! The whistle blows on a four goal Boro cup triumph amid scenes of air punching - supporters doing their traditional EIO victory dance and the inspirational skipper doing his revived crowd pleaser, the South gate Salute. This high is getting to be dangerously addictive.
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