Chelsea Football Club secured a hard-fought victory against Palmeiras, winning 2-1 in their quarterfinal match at the FIFA Club World Cup. The hard-fought win propels Chelsea into the semifinals, where they’ll meet Brazilian side Fluminense. The match took place at the iconic Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, showcasing both teams’ determination and skill.
Chelsea set the tone for the match from the very beginning. When Cole Palmer netted in the 16th minute, they were ahead and showing their good muscle. The young forward received a precise pass from Trevoh Chalobah, dribbled past defenders, and struck a left-footed shot from 15 yards out, putting Chelsea ahead. This goal was a watershed moment for Palmer. He had already suffered extreme backlash from supporters for his previous showing during the tournament.
Despite Chelsea’s lead, Palmeiras fought back. Estevao scored in the 53rd minute to equalize for the Brazilian team. He truly showed his potential during the tournament as he prepares to join Chelsea after the World Cup. The lead lasted for two minutes, as Chelsea were back in front when Palmeiras goalkeeper Weverton accidentally scored an own goal just minutes after Estevao’s equalizer.
Chelsea’s manager Enzo Maresca was realistic about the difficulty of the tie. He stated, “It has been a tough game, as we expected. We needed lots of energy. At the end, congratulations to the players because they were very good.” Maresca was full of praise for every aspect of Chelsea’s performance — most notably their ability to bounce back from adversity.
Joao Pedro made his debut for Chelsea in the 54 th minute on Saturday’s match. This was an important moment for him, having just recently signed with the club from Brighton & Hove Albion. His introduction certainly injected some much-needed pace and creativity to Chelsea’s attack as they attempted to kill the match dead.
Palmer comments on being pleased with his performance after the game. He noted, “I’ve been working on … the shot in training. I just saw the space and went there.” This goal shot up his confidence. It further entrenched his position as Chelsea’s most prolific player in terms of shots on goal during the entire tournament.
Chelsea is preparing for their historic semifinal matchup against Fluminense. They are motivated to try to go as far as they can in the FIFA Club World Cup again.
