Rabu, 09-07-2025 06.12 WIB

New Jersey – Chelsea advanced to the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after a convincing 2-0 win over Brazilian side Fluminense in the semifinal clash held at MetLife Stadium, early Wednesday morning (July 9, WIB).

From the first whistle, The Blues controlled the tempo of the game. Starting with new signing Joao Pedro up front, Chelsea created numerous early chances. Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez were among the first to test the Fluminense defense.

The breakthrough came in the 18th minute. Joao Pedro opened the scoring with a stunning long-range strike, giving Chelsea a 1-0 lead and igniting the crowd in New Jersey.

Chelsea continued to dominate after the goal, limiting Fluminense’s attacking opportunities. The Brazilian side nearly earned a penalty in the 34th minute after Ignacio was brought down by Joao Pedro, but VAR revealed the foul occurred just outside the box, canceling the spot-kick.

The 1-0 scoreline remained unchanged at halftime, and Chelsea maintained their dominance in the second half.

Joao Pedro doubled the lead in the 56th minute with a composed finish inside the box after a brilliant solo run on a quick counterattack. The forward, recently acquired from Brighton & Hove Albion, completed his brace and firmly put Chelsea in the driver’s seat.

The second goal seemed to deflate Fluminense, who struggled to respond as Chelsea calmly kept possession and continued to pose threats.

In the closing minutes, Fluminense made a late push, but Chelsea’s defense held strong to preserve the clean sheet and secure their place in the final.

With this result, Chelsea move on to the 2025 Club World Cup final, where they will face the winner of the other semifinal between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, scheduled for early Thursday morning (July 10, WIB).

(Zulrzk)