United States – Fluminense will be remembered at this Club World Cup as the last bastion of South American football against a European power. The Brazilian side made it to the semifinals of the tournament, but in the run-up to the final, they faced a Chelsea side that, while not a spectacular team, had enough quality to beat anyone. The 2-0 victory, thanks to two stunning goals from Joao Pedro, was enough for the English team to secure their place in the final.
Under a blazing New York sun and a temperature of 34 degrees, the English and Brazilian teams battled for a place in the tournament final. Although Chelsea were known to be the favorites, simply due to their European status, there was some hope that Flu could compete, as they did against Inter.
The Brazilian team imposed certain conditions through the positioning of the ball, a situation that didn’t bother Chelsea entirely because the quality of its players allowed it to remain even less superior and still maintain its aspirations of landing a lethal blow.
João Pedro does not celebrate against Fluminense.
The Blues’ first blow came early, right in the 18th minute, when Joao Pedro found a ball on the edge of the box, slightly angled towards the left side, where he dominates best. The Brazilian, a long-time Fluminense player, finished with a long-range shot that slid just inside Fabio’s left post, who was unable to stop his opponent’s scything.
The goal triggered the worst predictions for Fluminense because it revealed them as vulnerable. Their attempts lacked the necessary danger to trouble their opponents, and without letting loose, they sought to take the match to the minimum margin, always with the possibility of a draw.
See you in the final. 👋💙 pic.twitter.com/HaKWi0QAly
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 8, 2025
Chelsea sealed the win with a double from JJoãoPedro.
Chelsea certainly grew in confidence and found the Brazilians’ backs on several occasions. This situation increased in the second half when the Flu pushed forward in search of an equalizer.
Right in the 56th minute, at that moment of rupture between what is and what could be, a Blues counter-attack sealed the deal. The move featured a brilliant backheel from Palmer and a through ball from Enzo Fernández that left JJoãoPedro alone.
Harry Matthews graduated with a degree in English Literature from the University of London and has written for various media outlets. Passionate about film, sports, high school sports, travel, and stand-up comedy, he primarily spends his free time listening to podcasts.
