Chelsea Defeat Palmeiras in Dramatic Club World Cup Clash to Reach Semi-Finals

Chelsea Advance to Club World Cup Semi-Final After Narrow Win Over Palmeiras

Chelsea booked their place in the Club World Cup semi-finals after a tense 2-1 victory over Palmeiras in Philadelphia. The game, played in front of a near-capacity crowd at Lincoln Financial Field, ended in drama as an own goal by goalkeeper Weverton settled the tie in the 83rd minute.

The Premier League side opened the scoring in the 16th minute through Cole Palmer, who slotted home after a classy build-up. Palmeiras equalized in the second half courtesy of a brilliant strike from 18-year-old Estevao Willian, the Brazilian prodigy set to join Chelsea after the tournament.

Estevao Impresses Against Future Club

Facing his soon-to-be teammates, Estevao delivered a moment of magic in the 53rd minute. After controlling a pass from Richard Rios, he cut inside and unleashed a powerful shot that crashed in off the crossbar—reminding Chelsea fans why the club invested over €57 million in the teenager.

Despite his heroics, it wasn’t enough to stop Chelsea. A deflected cross from Malo Gusto, initially intended for the near post, caught Weverton off-guard and rolled into the net for the match-winner.

Maresca Praises Performance, Eyes Fluminense Semi-Final

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca acknowledged his side’s brief second-half slump but remained confident in the result. “We controlled the first half well and dominated the final stages. I think we deserved the win,” he said post-match.

The Blues will now face Fluminense in the semi-finals at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Maresca also handed a full debut to Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos, stepping in for the suspended Moises Caicedo.

The intensity of the match mirrored the occasion, with Independence Day fireworks visible in the sky and over 65,000 fans creating a charged atmosphere. This victory also avenged Chelsea’s previous loss to Brazilian side Flamengo in the same venue.

More Than Just a Game

The match wasn’t short of emotional undertones. Pedro Neto, playing just a day after the tragic passing of his Portugal teammate Diogo Jota, was among the notable figures on the pitch. Chelsea also introduced Joao Pedro, making his debut and becoming the 27th player used by Maresca in this tournament.

For Chelsea, the road to another Club World Cup title continues, while Palmeiras must regroup and focus on their domestic season. As for Estevao, his final performance for the Brazilian giants signals that Chelsea may have landed a future superstar.