Chelsea and Fluminense have secured their spots in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup, setting up an exciting matchup between the two teams. Chelsea defeated Palmeiras 2-1 in their quarter-final match, while Fluminense edged out Al Hilal 2-1 in a thrilling encounter.
In the Chelsea-Palmeiras match, the Blues dominated the first half, with Cole Palmer scoring the opening goal. Palmeiras equalized early in the second half through Estevao Willian, but Chelsea scored the winning goal when Malo Gusto’s cross was deflected into the Palmeiras goalkeeper Weverton to lead to an own goal .Esteveao impressed many fans with his performance as he will be joining Chelsea after the tournament. During the match Chelsea’s new signing Joao Pedro, made his debut in the match, coming off the bench.
Meanwhile, Fluminense’s match against Al Hilal was marked by a moment of silence for Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva who recently passed away after being involved in a car accident. Jota’s Portugal national team teammates, João Cancelo and Rúben Neves, were in tears during the moment of silence.
On the pitch, Matheus Martinelli opened the scoring for Fluminense with a precise strike in the 40th minute. Al Hilal responded quickly in the second half, with Marcos Leonardo equalizing in the 51st minute. However, Fluminense regained the lead in the 70th minute when substitute Hércules delivered a composed finish.
The Brazilian side held firm in the closing stages, repelling Al Hilal’s attempts to equalize and securing a vital win. Goalkeeper Fabio (44) and center-back Thiago Silva (40) played key roles in Fluminense’s success, with the team having only conceded three goals in the tournament so far.
As the two teams face off in the semi-finals, fans can expect a good encounter between two clubs. The highlight of the match will undoubtedly be Thiago Silva’s return to Chelsea, where he spent several successful years. Will the 40-year-old’s experience be enough to lead Fluminense to victory, or will Chelsea’s youthful energy and talent prove too much to handle? One thing is certain, this match promises to be a clash of styles, skill, and determination.
The club world cup quarter finals continues today as PSG is set to face Bayern Munich while Real Madrid will face Borussia Dortmund as the winners will advance to face each other in the semi finals.
Compiled by Hope mwandenga.
