João Pedro scored twice against his boyhood club to guide Chelsea past Fluminense and into the FIFA Club World Cup final. It was a performance full of control, class, and clinical finishing at MetLife Stadium as Enzo Maresca’s side booked a spot in Sunday’s title decider.
In stifling New Jersey heat, Chelsea played with composure and discipline. The Premier League side made their early dominance count when Pedro Neto found João Pedro in the box. The 23-year-old forward, who joined Chelsea for £60 million ($81.5m) this summer, cut inside and curled a brilliant finish into the far corner. Pedro, out of respect for Fluminense, kept his celebration muted.
Chelsea nearly added a second before the break. Nkunku headed just wide and Neto danced through defenders on the left. Fluminense had their chances too, most notably a goal-line clearance from Cucurella and a penalty shout overturned by VAR. But Chelsea remained composed.
The second half opened with a burst. Cole Palmer drove the counter, Enzo Fernandez delivered a gorgeous outside-foot through ball, and Joao Pedro blasted it in off the underside of the bar.
With a two-goal cushion, Chelsea cruised. Moises Caicedo was everywhere in midfield, orchestrating breaks and breaking up play. Thiago Silva kept Fluminense afloat with a heroic block on a Cucurella cross, and Soteldo brought some edge late on, but the Brazilians looked out of gas.
The only blemish for Chelsea was a late injury to Caicedo, who limped off in visible pain after rolling his ankle. He was able to walk off under his own power but looked uncomfortable.
Pedro was withdrawn shortly after his second goal, but the work was already done. On his first Chelsea start, he delivered his finest performance yet in blue.
Chelsea will now face either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s final at the same venue.
