Chelsea secured their spot in the Club World Cup semi-finals with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Palmeiras on Friday, thanks to a late own goal by Brazilian goalkeeper Weverton. The closely contested tie, played in Philadelphia, featured moments of brilliance—particularly from teenage sensation Estevao Willian, who is set to join Chelsea after the tournament.
Estevao’s impressive second-half strike levelled the match after Cole Palmer had opened the scoring early on for the Premier League side. However, Chelsea claimed victory in the 83rd minute when Malo Gusto’s low cross deflected off defender Agustin Giay and struck Weverton before trickling into the net.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca dismissed any suggestion that his side were lucky, insisting they had been in control for large portions of the match. “We controlled the first half and could have scored more. They improved after the break, but in the final 25 minutes, we dominated again. We deserved the win,” he said.
The win sets up a semi-final clash with Fluminense, the second Brazilian side Chelsea will face in the competition, with the match scheduled for Tuesday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The match was also a personal showcase for 18-year-old Estevao, whose dazzling performance against his future club gave Palmeiras fans one last moment of joy before his imminent transfer. His goal, a stunning shot off the underside of the bar, brought the Brazilian side level in the 53rd minute and briefly threatened to spoil Chelsea’s plans.
Chelsea’s opener came in the 16th minute when Palmer, finding space just outside the box, latched onto a pass from Trevoh Chalobah. The England international spun, surged forward and finished low into the far corner to give Chelsea an early lead.
Maresca’s line-up included young Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos, who made his first start in place of the suspended Moises Caicedo. Portuguese winger Pedro Neto also featured, playing just a day after the tragic death of his national teammate Diogo Jota.
Palmeiras looked to have done enough to push the game to extra time until Chelsea’s persistence paid off. A short corner routine saw Enzo Fernandez link up with Malo Gusto, whose cross from the left deflected awkwardly off Giay, catching Weverton off guard and rebounding into the net.
Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira accepted the result with grace. “Chelsea are a better side with a stronger squad and manager. We were unlucky with the second goal, but that’s football,” he admitted.
Chelsea’s victory repeats the outcome of their 2022 Club World Cup final win over Palmeiras and takes them one step closer to another title.
The match drew a near-capacity crowd of 65,782 at Lincoln Financial Field despite the July 4th holiday weekend. As fireworks lit up the Philadelphia skyline, Chelsea provided their own explosive moments on the pitch.
