Bryan Robson's great Gazza gamble failed as extra-time strikes from unlikely hero Frank Sinclair and Roberto Di Matteo claimed Chelsea's second final win over Boro in 10 months to lift the Coca-Cola Cup.

Boro boss Robson had heeded Paul Gascoigne's own advice not to start the England enigma but thrust him into action just after the hour.

It was more than seven years since Gascoigne had been spotted in a club match in England, the 1991 FA Cup Final where he had lasted barely 10 minutes.

Today he was instantly back where he had left off with that wild lunge on Gary Charles, lashing out at Mark Hughes, deservedly booked for a dreadful tackle on Gianfranco Zola, and lucky to escape after another on man-of-the-match Dennis Wise.

But more crucially it was when Gascoigne over-ran a one-two he had worked with Paul Merson four minutes into extra-time that Boro were caught on the back foot.

When Zola fed Wise on the right, the Chelsea skipper just got to the ball before it crossed the line, and from his centre, Jamaican international Sinclair's header was too powerful for Mark Schwarzer.

Now Boro - and a fitness-shy Gascoigne - were running on empty, Di Matteo, who had scored after only 43 seconds last time, taking advantage by sliding home with 13 minutes left.

For Gianluca Vialli, whose decision not to name himself in the 14 was as much a surprise as Gascoigne's self-benching, it was complete vindication, as the Italian followed Stamford Bridge predecessor Ruud Gullit on the list of Wembley-winning foreign bosses.

But as Vialli himself went up the steps to collect proof of Chelsea's first win in the competition for 33 years, kissing the Cup and lifting it aloft 45 days after taking over, Robson and his Riversiders were left to reflect on that unwanted place in history with three consecutive final defeats.

It proved lightning can strike twice in the same place, horribly so for Boro, for even if Gascoigne had talked himself out of a start, the Teessiders appeared a much-changed proposition.

Only skipper Nigel Pearson, Gianluca Festa and Robbie Mustoe remained from the side on duty in May, while Chelsea, by contrast, made just the three changes, Ed De Goey, Michael Duberry and Graeme Le Saux coming in.

It was one of the Boro new-boys, Merson, who was the most prominent early on, but while the former Gunner was soon establishing a points lead over Le Saux, the Channel Islander's threat meant Merson was forced wide right.

It meant no support for Marco Branca and Hamilton Ricard and for all the possession the rugged-tackling Boro had - Eddie Newton making one acrobatic clearance under real pressure - they could not test De Goey.

Dan Petrescu was a fraction off-target from what might be described as Di Matteo range, Duberry volleyed over from Zola's corner and Di Matteo himself brought Schwarzer to his knees from 20 yards.

The physical edge to the game continued, Festa squaring up to Frank Leboeuf, who in turn left his imprint on Branca's shin, Hughes and Pearson meeting for another round in their 15-year ding-dong.

But Chelsea, more composed, more collected, were beginning to turn the screw and for four minutes mid-way through the half Boro were hanging on.

Di Matteo sent Le Saux scurrying down the left, into space, before delivering into the danger area.

Hughes met it superbly on the half-volley, his left-footer searing towards the top corner, only for Aussie keeper Schwarzer to thrust out a giant right paw and turn the ball behind.

Denied, but buoyed up, and Chelsea kept on coming. Zola's shot was deflected wide before Le Saux's decoy run allowed Zola to mesmerise Festa before crossing deep.

Hughes rose to head downwards, Schwarzer untidily but effectively shovelling the ball behind, and when Zola's corner was half-cleared by Steve Vickers, Di Matteo flashed wide.

A minute later, Schwarzer, who had returned after a five-match absence with a thigh injury, was rubbing the problem spot gingerly after a typical Hughes clattering.

Boro's worst fears were not met, and as the half wore on, with referee Peter Jones having to work hard to keep tempers in check - booking Hughes and the ever-petulant Le Saux - they regained equilibrium.

But Merson's weak left-footer three minutes after the restart was their only effort on target before Sinclair struck and Chelsea always had more conviction.

No luck for a while though. Zola was the first to be unlucky, taking Petrescu's return pass to crash against the bar with Schwarzer groping thin air just before the hour.

And the keeper then beaten again when Petrescu was once more the wall to set up Di Matteo, whose effort was a coat of paint away seconds later.

Di Matteo fell to the ground in disbelief, the near thing the cue for the prodigal son to return to English football, Gascoigne replacing Ricard - Branca left as lone ranger up front - after 64 minutes to set off a Teesside flag day.

Gascoigne immediately demanded the ball, but his probing came to nothing, and his biggest impact was physical.

A kick on Hughes proved Gazza was back and when he went through Zola long after the ball was gone the booking, just six minutes into his return, was inevitable, the head-to-head with the Sardinian afterwards frankly stupid.

Gascoigne's former England B room-mate Wise gained revenge soon afterwards with a thigh-high challenge that brought another booking as things almost boiled over.

Steve Clarke had replaced Petrescu by now, Le Saux - who by now had clawed back Merson's early advantage - pushed into midfield and with eight minutes left Tore Andre Flo came on for Hughes although there was still time for Leboeuf to be booked before the 90 were up.

Extra-time again, familiar territory for Chelsea, who had been there three times already this term, and even before Sinclair grabbed the glory Di Matteo had been foiled.

Once behind, Boro had to come out, and Branca tested De Goey for the first time after Merson, now operating through the middle, had spread wide.

Gascoigne might well have gone for a scything foul on Wise that saw Leboeuf's free-kick power outside the upright, with Schwarzer foiling Flo within a minute of the turnaround.

But when Zola delivered the corner to the near-post, Di Matteo ghosted in unmarked to stab home from six yards, killing Boro off as emphatically, even if so much later, as he did in May.

No way back, with Di Matteo somehow failing to claim another after great work by Flo, making his point to Vialli in the ideal fashion.

Chelsea, once again, were too good. Boro, once again, were heartbroken, although at least Gascoigne could walk away. Scant consolation.

Teams

Chelsea: De Goey, Petrescu (Clarke 75), Leboeuf, Hughes (Flo 83), Wise, Duberry, Le Saux, Di Matteo, Sinclair, Newton, Zola.

Subs Not Used: Hitchcock.

Booked: Hughes, Le Saux, Wise, Leboeuf.

Goals: Sinclair 95, Di Matteo 107.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Festa, Kinder, Vickers, Pearson, Mustoe, Maddison (Beck 102), Ricard (Gascoigne 65), Branca, Merson, Townsend.

Subs Not Used: Fleming.

Booked: Townsend, Gascoigne.

Att: 77,698

Ref: P Jones (Loughborough).