Chelsea’s Levi Colwill and Liam Delap will miss the Club World Cup semifinal due to yellow card suspensions, dealing a significant blow to Enzo Maresca’s side.

Chelsea has suffered a significant setback ahead of their Club World Cup semifinal match against Fluminense. Levi Colwill and Liam Delap will be suspended for the match due to yellow card accumulations during the team’s 2-1 win over Palmeiras.

Colwill’s absence will be particularly felt, as he is a key player in Chelsea’s defence.

Delap’s yellow card was given for persistent fouling just before halftime in the Palmeiras match. His absence will create an opportunity for Nicolas Jackson, who has completed his two-match ban for a red card received in the group stage loss to Flamengo.

João Pedro, who made a bright debut coming off the bench against Palmeiras, could also be in contention for a starting spot.

Colwill’s suspension means that Tosin Adarabioyo will likely partner Trevoh Chalobah in defence.

The two players have shared minutes this tournament and have battled for the right centre-back spot for most of the past six months. While Colwill’s absence is a significant blow, Chalobah and Adarabioyo have shown they can work well together.

One piece of good news for Chelsea is that Moises Caicedo will be available for the semifinal match. He missed the quarterfinal against Palmeiras due to his own accumulation of yellow cards. His return will provide a boost to Chelsea’s midfield.

Chelsea will need to regroup and adjust their strategy to overcome the absence of Colwill and Delap. With the right approach, they can still make a strong impression in the tournament and potentially advance to the final.