Chelsea secured a place in the final of the expanded Club World Cup on Tuesday with a commanding 2-0 win over Brazilian side Fluminense, thanks to a brace from new signing Joao Pedro.
The 23-year-old Brazilian forward found the net in both halves during the semi-final clash at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, guiding the Premier League side to a final showdown against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.
Joao Pedro, who joined Chelsea from Brighton and Hove Albion just a week prior for a reported £60 million ($79 million), wasted no time making an impact on his full debut. After appearing off the bench in the quarter-final victory over Palmeiras, he was handed a starting role in place of the suspended Liam Delap and delivered a clinical performance against his boyhood club.
The forward struck first in the 18th minute, showing composure and precision after collecting a Pedro Neto cross that had been partially cleared by former Chelsea defender Thiago Silva. Joao Pedro took a touch and curled a right-footed effort into the far corner beyond Fluminense’s veteran goalkeeper Fabio.
Despite the significance of the goal, he chose not to celebrate out of respect for his former club, with whom he began his professional career and made 36 appearances before moving to England in 2020.
His second goal came shortly before the hour mark, with Chelsea already in control. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez sent a perfectly timed through ball into Pedro’s path during a quick counter-attack.
The forward made no mistake, smashing a shot in off the crossbar to complete his brace and put the result beyond doubt. His double against Fluminense marked an emphatic debut and highlighted why Chelsea were willing to invest heavily in his services.
Fluminense, the reigning Copa Libertadores champions, had entered the match as underdogs, a status their manager Renato Portaluppi had acknowledged earlier in the tournament by referring to his squad as the “ugly duckling.”
Despite their modest budget in comparison to Europe’s elite, the Brazilian outfit had produced a remarkable run in the tournament, holding Borussia Dortmund in the group stage and knocking out Inter Milan and Al-Hilal in the knockout rounds.
But against Chelsea, Fluminense were outclassed. They had moments of promise, particularly in the 25th minute when Hercules, the hero of their quarter-final victory, nearly equalised. After a slick one-two with German Cano, he chipped the ball over Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, only to be denied by Marc Cucurella’s goal-line clearance.
Later in the first half, the Brazilian side were awarded a penalty after a free-kick delivery appeared to strike Trevoh Chalobah’s arm. However, referee Francois Letexier reviewed the incident via VAR and reversed the call.
Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca, who was without suspended defenders Levi Colwill and Liam Delap, welcomed back midfielder Moises Caicedo from suspension. His presence helped stabilize the team in midfield as Chelsea maintained control throughout the encounter, much to the delight of the 70,556 fans in attendance on a warm afternoon near New York City.
With this win, Chelsea not only maintained their perfect record against Brazilian clubs in the competition but also set up a blockbuster final against a European rival. Either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain awaits in Sunday’s final, a fitting conclusion to the inaugural 32-team edition of the tournament.
The win also continued Chelsea’s impressive momentum under Maresca and added to their growing list of silverware pursuits. Despite several late chances, the two goals from Joao Pedro proved sufficient to send them into the final.
What You Should Know
Joao Pedro, Chelsea’s £60 million signing from Brighton, scored twice on his full debut to help the Blues defeat Fluminense 2-0 and reach the final of the first 32-team Club World Cup.
The Brazilian forward, formerly of Fluminense, chose not to celebrate against his old club. His performance underscored Chelsea’s attacking strength and set up a final clash with either Real Madrid or PSG.
