Chelsea’s latest signing Joao Pedro made an immediate impact, scoring both goals in a 2-0 semi-final victory over Fluminense to book the Premier League side a place in Sunday’s Club World Cup final.
The Brazilian forward, signed from Brighton & Hove Albion for a reported £60 million last week, marked his first start with a superb performance at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. He found the net in both halves, sealing Chelsea’s spot in the final against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.
Pedro, 23, joined Chelsea mid-preseason and made his debut off the bench in the quarter-final win over Palmeiras. Starting in place of the suspended Liam Delap, he was clinical against his former club, where he began his career before moving to Watford in 2020. Out of respect, he chose not to celebrate either goal.
The first goal came in the 18th minute, with Pedro curling a precise effort into the far corner after controlling a loose ball outside the box. His second came in the 56th minute after he latched onto a through ball from Enzo Fernandez and smashed it home off the underside of the bar.
Fluminense, captained by 40-year-old Thiago Silva — a former Chelsea defender — offered moments of threat. They nearly equalized in the first half when Hercules lifted the ball over Robert Sanchez, only for Marc Cucurella to clear off the line. They were also briefly awarded a penalty for handball against Trevoh Chalobah, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review.
Despite their spirited performance, Fluminense could not find a way back into the match, ending South America’s hopes of lifting the Club World Cup title in this expanded 32-team edition. The Brazilian side had earlier impressed by defeating Inter Milan and Al Hilal, but Chelsea’s superior quality ultimately proved decisive.
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca was without Levi Colwill and Liam Delap due to suspensions, but welcomed back Moises Caicedo to his midfield. The Blues now look ahead to Sunday’s final, where they will aim to secure the Club World Cup crown against one of Europe’s elite.
