Chelsea advanced to the Club World Cup final with a solid 2-0 win in the Fluminense vs Chelsea clash held in New Jersey. The English club was led to victory by new signing Joao Pedro, who scored both goals in a dominant performance.
The match, played at the MetLife Stadium in sweltering 35°C heat, saw Joao Pedro open the scoring in the 18th minute. The Brazilian forward curled a brilliant shot past the goalkeeper after Fluminense defender Thiago Silva failed to clear Pedro Neto’s cross.
Pedro doubled Chelsea’s lead in the 56th minute with a powerful strike that bounced in off the bar. His performance not only secured a place in the final but also began repaying Chelsea’s £55 million investment in him from Brighton. The club has already earned £60 million from the tournament and this win adds another £22 million, with more to come if they win the final.
In the Fluminense vs Chelsea game, Chelsea created several chances. Christopher Nkunku came close to scoring, while Marc Cucurella made a vital goal-line clearance. Fluminense had opportunities too, but substitute Everaldo was denied and a potential penalty was overturned by VAR after a handball by Trevoh Chalobah.
Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo limped off with a late ankle injury, the only concern in an otherwise perfect night for the Blues. Enzo Fernandez and Cucurella impressed, while Nkunku delivered one of his best performances of the year.
Pedro Neto also stood out with a superb display on the wing, and he is now in contention for player of the tournament.
Chelsea will now face either Real Madrid or PSG in the final on Sunday. Fluminense, meanwhile, will return to Brazil to resume their domestic campaign with upcoming matches against Mirassol and Cruzeiro.
The Fluminense vs Chelsea result highlights the importance of taking the Club World Cup seriously, with Chelsea’s players now close to both glory and a financial windfall.
Read more about Fluminense’s journey to the Club World Cup semifinal in their clash against Al-Hilal here
