Chelsea secured a 2-1 win over Palmeiras and advanced to the Club World Cup semifinals despite future signing Estevao Willian scoring against the Blues.
Chelsea secured a spot in the Club World Cup semifinals with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Palmeiras.
Cole Palmer opened the scoring in the 16th minute, and despite Estevao Willian levelling the score early in the second half, a Giay Agustin own goal off Malo Gusto’s cross sealed the victory for the Blues.
The real story of the match, however, was Estevao Willian’s impressive goal for Palmeiras. The 18-year-old Brazil international, who is set to join Chelsea in a £52m deal, showcased his skills with a stunning shot from a tight angle that hit the bar and went in.
Chelsea’s new signing, Joao Pedro, made his debut in the match, but the Blues will be without Liam Delap and Levi Colwill in the semifinals due to yellow card suspensions. Captain Reece James also picked up an injury during the warm-up.
The win sets up a semifinal match against Fluminense at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Despite the absence of key players, Chelsea will be looking to build on their momentum and make a strong impression in the tournament.
