New arrival João Pedro marked his full Chelsea debut in model, scoring each targets in a assured 2-0 victory over Fluminense on Tuesday to ebook the Blues a spot in Sunday’s Club World Cup closing.
The 23-year-old Brazilian struck clinically within the 18th minute at MetLife Stadium, then doubled the lead simply earlier than the hour, capping a dominant show that sends Chelsea right into a closing showdown in opposition to both Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.
Signed from Brighton & Hove Albion final week for a reported 60 million kilos ($79 million), Pedro minimize quick his summer season break to hitch the squad, making a quick look within the quarterfinal win over Palmeiras earlier than incomes his first begin rather than the suspended Liam Delap.
Pedro refused to have fun both aim in opposition to the membership the place he started his profession and made 36 first-team appearances earlier than shifting to England with Watford in 2020.
The outcome ended Fluminense’s spectacular run within the match. The 2023 Copa Libertadores champions had held Borussia Dortmund within the group stage, crushed Inter Milan within the spherical of 16 and knocked out Al-Hilal, who had eradicated Manchester City, within the quarterfinals.
With their exit went the hopes of a South American winner within the inaugural 32-team version of the Club World Cup. Chelsea, in the meantime, posted back-to-back victories in opposition to Brazilian opposition to achieve the ultimate.
As all the time appeared possible, the trophy shall be claimed by certainly one of Europe’s powerhouses, with the ultimate now assured to function two of the final 5 UEFA Champions League winners.
“It is a great achievement. It has been a fantastic season – top four in the league, winning the Conference League and now in the final of this competition. We are so, so happy,” Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca instructed broadcaster DAZN.
“Now finally it is the last game of the season, we can say that, and hopefully we can win the tournament.”
Fluminense coach Renato Portaluppi had described his group because the “ugly duckling” of the match as a result of huge monetary hole between them and the opposite three remaining sides within the United States.
But this recreation proved a step too far for the Rio de Janeiro membership, captained by 40-year-old former Chelsea middle again Thiago Silva.
Caicedo returns
Chelsea have been with out the suspended Levi Colwill and Delap, however midfield lynchpin Moises Caicedo returned after lacking the Palmeiras match in Philadelphia on account of suspension.
The Premier League aspect have been just too sturdy for his or her opponents in a recreation watched by 70,556 followers on a scorching afternoon simply outdoors New York City.
They went forward due to a high-quality strike from their new ahead, who managed the ball on the fringe of the field after Silva had cleared a cross from Pedro Neto.
Pedro took a contact and curled a shot past veteran goalkeeper Fabio into the far nook, then raised his palms in apology towards the Fluminense followers massed behind the aim.
Fluminense have been an intermittent risk. Hercules, the match-winner in opposition to Al-Hilal within the final eight, practically equalized within the twenty fifth minute. He performed a one-two with German Cano and lifted the ball over goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, however Marc Cucurella raced again to clear off the road.
Ten minutes earlier than halftime, Fluminense have been awarded a penalty after a set-piece supply from Renê struck the arm of Trevoh Chalobah within the field. However, French referee Francois Letexier overturned the choice following a VAR evaluation.
Chelsea doubled their lead within the 56th minute, shortly after Fluminense eliminated certainly one of their three middle backs in favor of an additional attacker.
Enzo Fernandez despatched Pedro via on the break, and the ahead, who scored 10 Premier League targets for Brighton final season, completed emphatically off the crossbar.
Chelsea had probabilities to increase the lead, however Pedro’s double was sufficient. The solely blemish got here late on, when Caicedo limped off with a knock simply earlier than full time.
Source: www.dailysabah.com