Chelsea secured their ticket to the final of the Club World Cup with a fantastic performance against Brazilian side Fluminense on Tuesday afternoon in New Jersey. The match was an emotional homecoming for club legend, Thiago Silva, but the Blues handled business with the help of two goals from their new signing Joao Pedro.
The win is important in both the sporting pursuit of reaching the final of a major tournament with the title of “World Champion” on the line, but also financially. With the semifinal win, the Blues secured an additional $30 million to their already substantial $75 million pot collected so far at the Club World Cup.
Wednesday, the second semi-final between Real Madrid and PSG determines who Chelsea will face in the final on Sunday. Not only to become champions of the world but also for the winner's prize money of $40 million.
For the last few years, Chelsea have not won much and lost their status amongst Europe's elite in the eyes of many. This feels like the perfect opportunity to reintroduce themselves by winning the tournament.
Key Match Moments:
15th minute: Pedro, on his full debut, scores a delightful curling strike from just outside of the box. His effort was a wonder strike in a crucial match but the Brazilian classily decided not to celebrate against his boyhood club.
26th minute: Marc Cucurella arrives late and heroically clears a shot off the line to deny Fluminense their equaliser.
36th minute: VAR review for potential penalty. Rene crosses the ball where it takes an awkward bounce off Trevoh Chalobah’s leg before rolling off his arm, ultimately it was overturned after review.
54th minute: Everaldo gets in a good position on a blistering counter-attack but finds his effort saved by Robert Sanchez.
56th minute: Cole Palmer squirms away from three challenges before the ball settles at the feet of Enzo Fernandez who plays Pedro ahead. From there the Brazilian does the rest, setting the ball to his right foot before rocketing a finish into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
Standout Players
MOTM: Joao Pedro
Simply monumental performance in his first full start for Chelsea. Aside from two sensational goals, his linkup play and pressing were relentless throughout the match and proved his worth time and again. It's too early for sweeping delegations, but the Blues may have signed their newest superstar.
Centre-back pairing: Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah
The spine of Chelsea’s defence remained in control throughout the game, holding Fluminense goalless. Despite the pair not costing the club any transfer fees, they have both proven to be crucial assets at the back for the Blues.
Cole Palmer
As always, his fingerprints were seen everywhere on the pitch, and he completed 100% of his passes (27/27). He linked play beautifully and could have gotten an assist or two if he were lucky. He won't get the headlines, but he remains instrumental.
Final Thoughts
Chelsea looked good all afternoon and found no trouble in bypassing Fluminense’s midfield as Fernandez and Caicedo controlled the match once again. Their partnership has only continued to grow since the conclusion of the Premier League season, and today they once again displayed their quality on the world stage.
Additionally, Enzo Maresca should be given a lot of credit for his tactics and decisions today. He showed bravery in giving Pedro his first start despite Nicolas Jackson being fit and even made major tweaks in the positions of both Neto and Nkunku. It worked wonders in balancing the team and allowing Palmer to find space in the pockets.
With a tougher opponent to be had in the final, there is little time to celebrate but the team and fans alike will be delighted with the performance. It has been a few years since Chelsea truly competed at the top level, but Sunday, the Blues will have their chance to flex amongst the world's best.