No All-Brazilian Semi-Final: Chelsea Edge Palmeiras in Club World Cup Thriller
Chelsea booked their place in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Brazilian giants Palmeiras at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The Blues drew first blood early on, with in-form winger Cole Palmer calmly slotting home in the 16th minute to give the Premier League side a deserved lead. Palmeiras, however, refused to roll over, and their teenage sensation Estevão Willian levelled the scoreline early in the second half with a thunderous strike that ricocheted off the crossbar and into the net — a moment of sheer brilliance that briefly silenced the travelling Chelsea fans.
But the tie took a dramatic turn in the 83rd minute when Palmeiras goalkeeper Weverton inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, handing Chelsea a fortuitous yet decisive goal and sealing the victory for the London club.
The 2-1 win means Chelsea will now face another Brazilian powerhouse, Fluminense, in the semi-final.
2025 FIFA Club World Cup
Palmeiras - Chelsea 1:2 (0:1)
Goals: Palmer Co., 16 (0:1); Estêvão, 53 (1:1); Weverton, 83 (own goal) (1:2)
Palmeiras: Weverton; Fuchs B.; Giay A.; Vanderlan; Micael; Martínez Em. (Moreno An., 75); Ríos (Veiga, 85); Allan (Mauricio, 67); Estêvão; Vitor Roque (López José, 75); Torres Fa. (Paulinho F., 67)
Bench: Mateus; Marcelo Lomba; Rocha; Mayke; Naves; Benedetti; Felipe Anderson; Lucas Evangelista; Luighi; Thalys
Yellow Cards: Ríos 78
Chelsea: Sanchez Ro.; Colwill; Chalobah; Gusto; Cucurella; Fernandez E.; Palmer Co.; Andrey Santos (Essugo, 90); Nkunku (Madueke, 54); Pedro Neto (Dewsbury-Hall, 87); Delap (João Pedro, 54)
Bench: Jörgensen F.; Penders; Slonina; Adarabioyo; Sarr; Anselmino; Acheampong J. K.; Jackson N.; George; Guiu Marc
Yellow Cards: Gusto 41; Delap 45; Colwill 86
