Palmeiras' own goal propels Chelsea into the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup
In a thrilling turn of events at the Club World Cup, Chelsea has secured their place in the semifinals following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Palmeiras. The match, held at the home of NFL Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, was attended by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The Blues took the lead early in the game, with Cole Palmer scoring his first Club World Cup goal in the 16th minute. Palmer, widely regarded as one of the top attacking midfielders, demonstrated his skills with a well-taken finish.
However, Palmeiras equalised in the 53rd minute, thanks to an impressive goal from Estêvão, an 18-year-old Brazilian winger who will be joining Chelsea this summer. Despite scoring against his future club, Estêvão showed no signs of nerves, aiming to end his time at Palmeiras on a high note before his move.
Chelsea regained the lead in the 83rd minute, with Gusto's goal appearing to deflect off defender Agustin Giay and goalkeeper Weverton. FIFA credited Weverton with an own goal, giving Chelsea the crucial advantage they needed to secure the win.
Unfortunately, Chelsea will be without forward Liam Delap and defender Levi Colwill for the semifinal, as both players received their second yellow cards of the tournament and will serve suspensions.
The semifinals will see three out of the four teams hailing from Europe, with Fluminense, who advanced after beating Al Hilal 2-1 in their previous match, representing South America. Fluminense will face Chelsea on Tuesday at East Rutherford, New Jersey, with ticket prices reduced by FIFA to as low as $11.15 to make the event more accessible.
Estêvão's transfer to Chelsea, worth an initial €34 million with potential add-ons that could increase the total value to around €67 million, is set to officially take place after he turns 18. In the meantime, he has been preparing for his move to Chelsea by taking English lessons and speaking with Chelsea midfielder Moisés Caicedo about what to expect at the club.
Before the match, there was a pregame tribute for Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, who were found dead in an accident in northwestern Spain. Our thoughts are with their families and friends at this difficult time.
The Club World Cup matches can be watched for free on DAZN, with the requirement of a free account creation. Fans are encouraged to tune in for what promises to be an exciting semifinal match between Chelsea and Fluminense.
The victory over Palmeiras in the Club World Cup semi-finals further solidifies Chelsea's position in European-leagues, especially the Premier League. With Estêvão's impressive goal against his future club, the Brazilian winger is set to make his mark in the European-leagues next season, following his transfer to Chelsea.
