In a tense first leg of the EFL Championship play-off semi-final, Middlesbrough and Southampton played out a goalless draw at the Riverside Stadium, leaving everything to play for in the return fixture.

From the opening whistle, it was clear which side was in the driver's seat. Michael Carrick's Middlesbrough dominated possession with a commanding 64% share and fired off a staggering 20 shots compared to Southampton's six. The hosts created chance after chance, racking up 2.45 expected goals and forcing four shots on target. They also won 11 corners, constantly keeping the Saints pinned back in their own half.

But for all their pressure, Boro couldn't find the breakthrough. Southampton's defensive discipline proved to be the backbone of their performance, as they absorbed wave after wave of attacks without cracking. The visitors, meanwhile, struggled to create any meaningful offense of their own, managing just one corner and a meager 0.68 expected goals. They spent most of the match without the ball, but their game plan worked to perfection: keep the tie alive.

The result leaves this semi-final finely balanced. Middlesbrough will feel they deserved to win based on the balance of play, while Southampton can take heart from a resolute away display that keeps their promotion dreams very much alive. With everything still to play for, the second leg promises to be a thriller.

Lineups:
Middlesbrough: Sol Brynn, Luke Ayling, Callum Brittain, Dael Fry, Adilson Malanda, Matt Targett, Riley McGree, Aidan Morris, Morgan Whittaker, Dávid Strelec, Tommy Conway

Southampton: Daniel Peretz, James Bree, Nathan Wood, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Ryan Manning, Finn Azaz, Caspar Jander, Flynn Downes, Tom Fellows, Léo Scienza, Cyle Larin