Chelsea and Fluminense Advance to FIFA Club World Cup Semifinals
Chelsea and Fluminense both secured their spots in the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup, showcasing resilience and skill in their respective quarter-final matches on July 4, 2025.
Chelsea Edges Past Palmeiras
Chelsea overcame Brazil’s Palmeiras with a narrow 2-1 victory at Lincoln Financial Field, thanks to a late own goal by Palmeiras goalkeeper Weverton. The match saw Chelsea take the lead early with a goal from Cole Palmer, who skillfully maneuvered past two defenders to slot the ball into the bottom corner.
Palmeiras equalized shortly after halftime, with Estevao thumping the ball in from a tight angle, hitting the crossbar before going in. However, Chelsea found their fortuitous winner in the 83rd minute when Malo Gusto’s cross-shot deflected off a defender and into Weverton’s arm.
“It was a tough game as we expected. We needed a lot of energy because we are at the end of the season, and they are at the beginning, so the energy is different,” said Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca. “Happy because we won, and happy because Estevao scored, so it’s a perfect night.”
Palmer noted, “We’ve been working on it in training. I saw the space and I went there [and scored].” Palmeiras head coach Abel Ferreira reflected on the defeat, stating, “The game was decided in details. So, proud and sad because of the way we suffered the second goal.”
Fluminense Shocks Al-Hilal
In a separate quarter-final clash, Brazil’s Fluminense continued their fairy-tale run by defeating Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal 2-1 in Orlando, Florida. Fluminense struck first with Matheus Martinelli finding the net after a defensive error from Joao Cancelo.
Al-Hilal responded in the second half with a goal from Marcus Leonardo, who capitalized on a rebound inside the box. However, Fluminense regained the lead in the 70th minute thanks to Hercules, who netted a stunning goal to secure the victory.
“Today we showed our determination and quality,” said Hercules, who scored off the bench. “We’ve come a long way, and we’re not done yet.”
The match began with a poignant moment as players and fans observed a minute’s silence in memory of Liverpool’s Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and his younger brother, who tragically died in a car accident.
Chelsea will now face Fluminense in the semifinals at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Tuesday, setting the stage for an exciting clash between two teams with everything to play for in their pursuit of the FIFA Club World Cup title.
