Chelsea Secures Spot in Club World Cup Final
Chelsea has advanced to the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after a commanding 2-0 victory over Brazilian side Fluminense1. The hero of the match was new signing Joao Pedro, who scored two sensational goals on his full debut to send his team to the final. The match took place in front of 70,566 fans at MetLife Stadium.
Match Details: Fluminense vs Chelsea
- Result: Fluminense 0–2 Chelsea
- Competition: FIFA Club World Cup Semi-Final
- Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2025
- Kick-off Time: 8:00 PM BST (3:00 PM local time)
- Venue: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Match Summary
Chelsea dominated the game, with manager Enzo Maresca's side displaying quality and maturity. The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Joao Pedro, making his first start for the club, unleashed an unstoppable 20-yard curling shot into the far corner. Out of respect for his former club, the Brazilian forward kept his celebration muted.
Fluminense had a significant chance to equalize, but Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella made a crucial goal-line clearance to deny German Cano. The Brazilian team was also awarded a penalty after the ball struck Trevoh Chalobah's arm, but the decision was rightly overturned following a VAR review.
Pedro sealed the victory for the Blues shortly after the interval. In the 56th minute, he advanced 40 yards with the ball, cut inside a defender, and fired a ferocious strike that went in off the underside of the crossbar, doubling Chelsea's lead.
Team Lineups and Changes
Manager Enzo Maresca made three changes to the starting lineup from the quarter-final match. Tosin Adarabioyo came into the defense to replace the suspended Levi Colwill, while Moises Caicedo returned to the midfield. Joao Pedro was given his first start in place of the also suspended Liam Delap, a decision that paid off spectacularly. Former Chelsea captain Thiago Silva started for Fluminense against his old club.
Key Match Statistics
While a full statistical breakdown is emerging, key moments defined the flow of the game:
| Statistic | Fluminense | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Ball Possession | 46% | 54% |
| Shots | 12 | 17 |
| Shots on Target | 3 | 5 |
| Passes | 429 | 503 |
| Pass Accuracy | 87% | 89% |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.24 | 1.85 |
| Corners | 3 | 4 |
| Fouls | 11 | 11 |
| Offsides | 2 | 4 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 1 |
| Statistic | Fluminense | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 0 | 2 |
| Goal Scorers | Joao Pedro (18', 56') | |
| Key Events | Penalty decision overturned by VAR | Goal-line clearance by Marc Cucurella |
Chelsea's victory ended Fluminense's impressive 11-match unbeaten streak across all competitions.
A Man of the Match Performance
Joao Pedro's impact was immediate and decisive, earning him Man of the Match honors. Having joined Chelsea from Brighton for a reported £55-£60 million just days before the match, his two goals on his first start instantly began to justify the investment.
After the game, Pedro spoke about his connection to his former club, stating, "When I was young, I didn’t have nothing. They gave everything to me... If I’m here, it’s because they believed in me. So I’m very grateful. But this is football. I have to be professional".
What's Next for Chelsea
With this victory, Chelsea has booked their place in the Club World Cup final on Sunday. They will face the winner of the other semi-final between European giants Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.