New Chelsea signing Joao Pedro made an instant impact as he scored both goals in the Blues’ 2-0 victory over Fluminense in the Club World Cup semi-final, securing their place in Sunday’s final at the MetLife Stadium.
The 23-year-old Brazilian forward, who joined Chelsea from Brighton in a $79 million deal last week, opened the scoring in the 18th minute before sealing the win with a second goal just before the hour mark.
Pedro, who came through the ranks at Fluminense, showed class and restraint by not celebrating either goal against his former club, where he made 36 senior appearances before moving to Watford in 2020.
The win means Chelsea will now face either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the first-ever 32-team edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Chelsea Dominate as Fluminense Fairy Tale Ends
Despite Fluminense’s impressive run—drawing with Borussia Dortmund, defeating Inter Milan, and eliminating Al-Hilal—the Copa Libertadores champions were outclassed by a clinical Chelsea side. Their elimination marks the end of South America’s hopes in the competition, with the trophy now guaranteed to stay in Europe.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca praised his team’s achievement:
“It is a great achievement. It has been a fantastic season—top four in the league, Conference League winners, and now we’re in the final. We are so, so happy. Finally, it’s the last game of the season, and hopefully we can win it.”
Fluminense Coach Proud Despite Defeat
Fluminense manager Renato Portaluppi, who previously described his team as the “ugly duckling” due to the financial disparity with European clubs, remained proud of his squad:
“There is no crying over spilled milk. We wanted to reach the final for our fans, but we leave with our heads held high. We return to our reality stronger than before.”
What’s Next?
Chelsea will now compete for the Club World Cup title on Sunday, July 13, at the MetLife Stadium, while Fluminense returns to Brazil with pride after a strong showing on the global stage.
