New signing Joao Pedro on Tuesday scored twice on his first start as Chelsea eased to a 2-0 win over Fluminense to seal a spot in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Brazilian striker opened the scoring in lethal fashion in the 18th minute of the last-four clash at MetLife Stadium and struck again shortly before the hour mark, as Chelsea set up a showdown with either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s final.
Signed from Brighton & Hove Albion last week for a reported ￡60 million (US$81.62 million), the 23-year-old cut short a holiday and made his debut off the bench in the quarter-final win over Palmeiras.
Photo: Reuters
He was then given his first Chelsea start up front in place of the suspended Liam Delap.
Joao Pedro refused to celebrate after either goal against the club with whom he started his career and made 36 appearances before moving to England with Watford in 2020.
The result ends Fluminense’s impressive run at the tournament after the 2023 Copa Libertadores winners held Borussia Dortmund in the group stage, beat Inter in the last 16 and knocked out Manchester City’s conquerors Al-Hilal in the quarter-finals.
With their exit go the prospects of a South American winner of the first 32-team Club World Cup, with Chelsea claiming back-to-back victories against Brazilian opposition to reach the final.
As always seemed most likely, the trophy will be claimed by one of Europe’s superpowers, with the final guaranteed to be between two of the past five winners of the UEFA Champions League.
“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 in this competition. We are so, so happy,” Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca told 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 team as the “ugly duckling” of the tournament due to the enormous difference between their budget and those of the other three remaining sides.
The game ultimately proved to be a step too far for the team, captained by 40-year-old former Chelsea centerback Thiago Silva.
“This was a wonderful Club World Cup,” Portaluppi said. “There is no crying over spilled milk now. We wanted to get to the final for our fans, but we leave with our heads held high, and go back to our reality stronger now than we were before.”
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