Joao Pedro’s Stunning Brace Sends Chelsea to FIFA Club World Cup Final
In a thrilling semi-final at MetLife Stadium, Joao Pedro’s exceptional performance propelled Chelsea FC to the FIFA Club World Cup final with a 2-0 victory over Fluminense FC. The young striker, who recently joined Chelsea from his boyhood club, scored both goals to shatter Fluminense’s hopes of glory.
Chelsea opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Joao Pedro showcased his remarkable talent. After a quick break initiated by Pedro and teammate Pedro Neto, the Brazilian found himself in a perfect position. Despite Fluminense defender Thiago Silva’s attempts to clear the ball, Joao Pedro fired a stunning curling shot into the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Fabio with no chance.
Fluminense fought back valiantly, almost leveling the score on two occasions. Hercules managed to slip past the Chelsea defense and took a shot, only for Marc Cucurella to make a crucial goal-line clearance. Later, a handball call against Trevoh Chalobah was overturned after a VAR review, denying Fluminense a penalty.
The second half saw Chelsea take complete control, with Joao Pedro doubling their lead in the 56th minute. This time, he cut in from the wing and unleashed a powerful drive that crashed in off the underside of the bar, showcasing his incredible skill and precision.
Despite Chelsea’s dominance, they could have increased their lead further. Christopher Nkunku had a shot cleared off the line, and Nicolas Jackson missed a golden opportunity when he shot into the side-netting instead of passing to Cole Palmer.
Joao Pedro, named Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match, reflected on his performance: “I think it was a dream. I’m happy to score my first goals for Chelsea, but I know this tournament is very important for Fluminense. I can just say sorry, but I have to be professional.”
Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, expressed his pride: “It has been a fantastic season. We are so, so happy. We go game by game, and now we have the last game of the season. Hopefully, we can win the tournament.”
Fluminense head coach Renato Gaucho acknowledged his team’s efforts: “We leave with our heads held high. We knew it would be tough against a highly skilled team.”
Thiago Silva, reflecting on Joao Pedro’s performance, remarked, “This kid is special. I didn’t expect him to have such an inspired afternoon.”
With this victory, Chelsea is now just 90 minutes away from becoming world champions, setting up an all-European final against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.
