Chelsea has secured their spot in the Club World Cup final after defeating Fluminense 2-0. The hero of the match was Joao Pedro, who scored both goals against his boyhood club. These were his first goals for the Blues since joining from Brighton, and they came in his debut start, filling in for the suspended Liam Delap. Joao Pedro is now the tenth different player to score for Chelsea in this tournament, creating a positive selection headache for coach Enzo Maresca when deciding on the starting striker for the final.
A major factor in Chelsea`s ability to hold off Fluminense`s attacks was the outstanding performance of the midfield pairing, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. Their excellent positional awareness effectively shut down Fluminense`s attacking build-up before it could become dangerous. Fernandez also played a crucial role in driving the team forward with his quick and accurate passing, notably providing the assist for the decisive second goal, which gave Chelsea valuable breathing room.
The end of the first half saw a few nervous moments. Marc Cucurella made a vital clearance off the line to prevent a goal, and Chelsea narrowly avoided conceding a penalty just before the break. Trevoh Chalobah was initially penalized for a handball, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review. The review confirmed that under the Club World Cup`s interpretation of the handball rule, Chalobah was not deemed to have committed a foul as his arms were considered to be in a natural position, granting the Blues a reprieve.
Capitalizing on this second chance, Chelsea saw out the game effectively. Manager Maresca has skillfully utilized the squad`s depth throughout the tournament. This victory means Chelsea reaches the Club World Cup final for the first time since winning it in 2021 against Palmeiras, although that edition featured a different, smaller format. Having already lifted the Conference League trophy this season, Chelsea are now just 90 minutes away from potentially adding more silverware to their collection.
The final, scheduled for July 13, will see Chelsea face either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid. With the Blues set to return to the Champions League next season, this fixture will serve as an excellent test of their capabilities against Europe`s elite. Regardless of the outcome in the final, Chelsea can be proud of their performance in this tournament as they prepare for the upcoming offseason.
