Club World Cup 2025: Chelsea first finalist

Chelsea FC, with their prodigious goalscorer João Pedro, turned the final of the European Club Championship into a European final. The Blues defeated Brazilian side Fluminense from Rio de Janeiro 2-0 (1-0) in a high-quality semifinal thanks to a brace from their new signing and will face Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid in the title race.

The clash between Bayern's conqueror and Dortmund's stunner will also take place in East Rutherford on Wednesday. The match for the Golden Cup on Sunday (both at 9 p.m./Sat.1 and DAZN) will also take place at MetLife Stadium, the final stadium of the 2026 World Cup for national teams.

Pedro, who had just arrived from Brighton & Hove Albion for 64 million euros, raised his hands apologetically after his goals with a curling shot (18th) from the edge of the penalty area and a powerful shot into the roof of the goal (56th): He comes from the youth system of Fluminense, which he left for England in 2020.

Before the 1-0 goal, Thiago Silva, the Brazilian defensive leader and former Chelsea player himself, made an unfortunate clearance. Pedro scored the 2-0 after a counterattack and a feint.

Marc Cucurella prevented Hércules from equalizing with a save off the line (26'). A handball penalty against Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah (35') was overturned after video review.

The 2023 Copa Libertadores winners were certainly on par with the 2021 Champions League winners. But the tournament's oldest team lacked freshness and quick thinking in the decisive moments against the youngest.

RND/SID