Match Highlights: Fluminense 0-2 Chelsea
Chelsea advanced to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final with a 2-0 victory over Fluminense at MetLife Stadium, New York, on July 8, 2025, thanks to Joao Pedro’s sensational brace. The 23-year-old Brazilian, who joined Chelsea from Brighton for £50m in June 2025, haunted his former youth club with two breathtaking goals in the 18th and 56th minutes. The Blues, under Enzo Maresca, dominated the second half (63% possession, 2.3 xG) to set up an all-European final against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain on July 13, with a $125m prize at stake.
- First Goal (18’): Joao Pedro, alongside Pedro Neto, dispossessed Fluminense’s André on halfway, sparking a rapid counter. Neto’s cross was cleared by Thiago Silva, but the ball fell to Pedro at the box’s edge. He unleashed a curling 20-yard strike, arcing past Fabio into the far corner, leaving Silva stunned. The goal, dubbed a “tournament highlight” on X, showcased Pedro’s 2.1 shots per game precision.
- Second Goal (56’): Pedro cut inside past Ignacio, evading two defenders, and rifled a 25-yard drive off the bar’s underside, with Fabio helpless. The strike, matching his first for brilliance, sealed Chelsea’s dominance (12 shots, 6 on target). Maresca praised Pedro’s “clinical edge,” noting his 10 goals in 2024/25.
Key Moments
Fluminense responded to Pedro’s opener with vigor, nearly equalizing twice. Hercules’ 28th-minute shot beat Robert Sanchez, but Marc Cucurella’s goal-line clearance preserved Chelsea’s lead. A 35th-minute penalty for Trevoh Chalobah’s handball was overturned after VAR showed a natural arm position, deflating Flu’s momentum. Chelsea’s second-half control, driven by Cole Palmer’s 1.8 key passes and Moises Caicedo’s 2.3 interceptions, stifled Fluminense’s attack (0.9 xG), despite Jhon Arias’ efforts (2 dribbles).
Pedro’s Emotional Impact
Joao Pedro, a Fluminense academy graduate, called the match “bittersweet” on X, dedicating his goals to his family in Rio. His brace against his boyhood club, where he never played senior football, drew comparisons to Lionel Messi’s 2015 Champions League final performance against Juventus. Thiago Silva, Pedro’s former Chelsea teammate, admitted post-match, “He punished us, but I’m proud of his growth.” Fans on X hailed Pedro’s “world-class” finishing, though some Flu supporters lamented their defense’s “schoolboy errors.”
Chelsea’s Path to the Final
Chelsea’s semi-final win, following a 4-1 rout of Benfica and a 3-2 victory over Palmeiras, marks their second Club World Cup final appearance (2012 loss to Corinthians). Maresca’s 4-2-3-1, bolstered by summer signings Pedro, Liam Delap, and Dario Essugo, has outscored opponents 9-3 in the tournament. Real Madrid, led by Vinicius Junior (2.1 goals per 90), or PSG, with Mohamed Salah’s rumored arrival, await in the final. Chelsea’s defense, anchored by Cucurella (1.9 tackles per game), faces scrutiny after Chalobah’s VAR scare.
Next Steps
Chelsea will face the Real Madrid-PSG semi-final winner on July 13 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, live on TNT Sports and FIFA+. Preseason friendlies against AC Milan (July 26) and the Community Shield against Crystal Palace (August 10) follow, with Pedro expected to lead alongside Nicolas Jackson (8 goals in 2024/25). Maresca aims to leverage the $100m runner-up prize to pursue Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, while fans on X debate Pedro’s Ballon d’Or potential. Fluminense, eliminated, shift focus to the 2025 Brasileirão, with coach Fernando Diniz praising their “brave” effort despite the loss.
