… guided to a 2-0 win over Fluminense to advance to the Club World Cup finals…
Chelsea has reached the FIFA Club World Cup final after beating Fluminense 2-0 in their semifinal match. João Pedro scored two amazing goals in his first start for the club. Pedro’s first goal came just before the 20-minute mark when he curled a beautiful shot into the far post. His second goal was equally impressive, as he rifled a shot that hit the underside of the crossbar before crossing the line.
Pedro didn’t celebrate his goals, given his past association with Fluminense. He joined Chelsea from Watford and is a product of Fluminense’s academy, where he spent eight years.
Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, handed Pedro his first start in the absence of Liam Delap, who is suspended. The decision paid off, as Pedro’s goals were the difference-maker in the match.
The match was intense, with Fluminense nearly equalizing shortly after Pedro’s first goal. However, Marc Cucurella saved Robert Sanchez with a goal-line clearance. Chelsea also avoided catastrophe in the 36th minute after the referee initially awarded Fluminense a penalty for a Trevoh Chalobah handball. Then VAR intervened and overturned the decision.
With Pedro’s brace, Chelsea advances to the Club World Cup final, where they will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid. The final match is scheduled for Sunday, July 13, at MetLife Stadium.
Pedro’s impressive performance raises questions about the future of Nicolas Jackson at the club. Jackson was a starter at the frontline before Delap and Pedro’s signings. It will be interesting to see how Maresca navigates the team’s attacking lineup moving forward. Will Jackson remain a key player for Chelsea, or will Delap and Pedro’s form force Maresca to make changes.
