By Emeka Blast 
Chelsea Seal Spot in Club World Cup Final With Win Over Fluminense
Chelsea FC secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Fluminense FC in the FIFA Club World Cup semifinal at MetLife Stadium, advancing to the final with a stellar performance led by new signing João Pedro. The match, played under swelteringly unbearable conditions with temperatures reaching 93°F, showcased Chelsea’s attacking prowess and depth, despite a late injury scare to key midfielder Moisés Caicedo.
João Pedro, making his full debut for Chelsea after a £60 million transfer from Brighton, stole the show by scoring two spectacular goals. His first, in the 18th minute, was a curling effort into the top-right corner after Fluminense’s veteran defender Thiago Silva failed to clear a cross from Pedro Neto. The 23-year-old Brazilian, facing his boyhood club, sealed the win 11 minutes after halftime with another brilliant strike, assisted by Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernández, leaving goalkeeper Fábio with no chance. Pedro’s performance earned him the Man of the Match award, with the young striker expressing mixed emotions: “I’m happy to score, but I know this tournament means a lot to Fluminense. I had to be professional.”
Chelsea dominated possession and created numerous chances, with Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, and Christopher Nkunku impressing through their link-up play. Fluminense, missing suspended players Martinelli and Juan Freytes, struggled to breach Chelsea’s defense, anchored by Trevoh Chalobah, who completed all 54 of his passes. The Brazilian side’s best moments came late in the first half, with a Herculean effort cleared off the line by Marc Cucurella and a controversial penalty call for a Chalobah handball overturned. Despite late attempts from substitutes Everaldo and Keno, Fluminense failed to test Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez significantly.
The match was marred by a concerning ankle injury to Caicedo, who limped off in stoppage time after rolling his ankle, raising doubts about his availability for the final against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain on July 13. Manager Enzo Maresca, reflecting on the win, called it “a great achievement” in his debut season, with Chelsea also securing £21.9 million in prize money, potentially rising to £100 million with a final victory.
Fluminense, the last non-European team in the tournament, showed resilience, with 44-year-old goalkeeper Fábio earning praise for earlier heroics, including two Player of the Match awards. However, their defensive solidity—conceding just three goals in the tournament—was undone by Chelsea’s clinical attack. Thiago Silva, facing his former club, was a standout but couldn’t prevent the defeat. The Tricolor now return to their domestic season, facing Mirassol and Cruzeiro.
The victory marks Chelsea’s third win over Brazilian opposition in this tournament, following a 2-1 quarter-final win over Palmeiras and a group-stage loss to Flamengo. Despite the absence of suspended players Liam Delap and Levi Colwill, Chelsea’s squad depth shone through, though Maresca will be sweating over Caicedo’s fitness. Fluminense fans expressed pride on X, with @FluminenseFC posting, “Orgulho de onde chegamos, orgulho de ser Tricolor,” despite the loss.
As Chelsea prepare for the final, the match highlighted their attacking potential and raised questions about Fluminense’s ability to compete with Europe’s elite, underscoring the gap between South American and European football in this expanded tournament.
