Joao Pedro masterclass fires Chelsea into Club World Cup final!
New signing Joao Pedro netted a stunning brace to propel Chelsea into the Club World Cup final, securing a dominant win over his boyhood club Fluminense. The £55 million forward's goals, including a brilliant curling opener, effectively repaid a significant portion of his transfer fee, setting up a blockbuster clash against either PSG or Real Madrid.
Joao Pedro delivered a sensational performance for Chelsea, scoring both goals that sent the Blues into the Club World Cup final. The 23-year-old forward, a £55 million summer signing, announced his arrival in style against his boyhood club Fluminense, securing a decisive victory that sees Chelsea through to the tournament's showpiece event.
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Pedro's first goal arrived in the 18th minute, a beautifully curled effort that found the net after former Chelsea defender Thiago Silva failed to clear Pedro Neto's cross. He then sealed the win in the 56th minute with a powerful shot that rocketed in off the crossbar for his second.
While Christopher Nkunku had multiple opportunities to extend Chelsea's lead, Fluminense also threatened, with Marc Cucurella clearing a Hercules shot off the line and a substitute Everaldo effort being saved. The Brazilian side might feel aggrieved by a VAR intervention that saw referee Francois Letexier overturn his initial decision to award a first-half penalty for a Trevoh Chalobah handball. However, once Chelsea opened the scoring in the mostly-full MetLife Stadium, they consistently looked poised to advance.
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The only sour note for Chelsea on the night was a potential injury to midfielder Moises Caicedo, who appeared to twist his ankle in the 93rd minute and left the pitch before the final whistle.
Joao Pedro repays his own transfer fee!
Chelsea's players have been battling gruelling 35C heat in the United States, adding an extra seven games to an already demanding season with their progression to the Club World Cup final. However, new signing Joao Pedro certainly wasn't focused on the negatives of FIFA's controversial tournament. After making his debut as a substitute in Chelsea's 2-1 quarter-final win against Palmeiras, another Brazilian side, the match against Fluminense marked his first start for the Blues. With Chelsea set to receive an additional £21.9 million for reaching Sunday's final, where they will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid, Pedro's two goals effectively repaid over a third of his transfer fee, immediately validating the club's faith in him.
Chelsea's route to final
Whoever Chelsea faces in the final – current European champions Paris Saint-Germain or 12-time Club World Cup winners Real Madrid – it will undoubtedly be their toughest test of the tournament. Enzo Maresca's side has not had an entirely smooth journey to the final. They suffered a resounding 3-1 defeat to Brazilian side Flamengo in their second group game after taking an early lead. The Blues also conceded a stoppage-time equalizer against Benfica in the last 16 before recovering to secure a 4-1 victory in extra time. Despite these challenges, Chelsea has consistently found a way to progress, demonstrating the kind of resilience that led them to Champions League glory in 2021, which originally sealed their qualification for this tournament.
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The stage is set for a monumental final. Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain and 15-time winners Real Madrid will battle it out in the other semi-final on Wednesday (20:00 BST) for the right to play Chelsea. Luis Enrique's PSG side advanced after beating Bayern Munich in the last round, despite being reduced to nine players late in the match. Madrid also faced disciplinary issues, with former Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen being sent off in their narrow 3-2 quarter-final win against Dortmund.
