Joao Pedro's Stunning Brace Sends Chelsea to Club World Cup Final

Chelsea Why Cole Palmer was furious at Nicolas Jackson as Joao Pedro Chelsea transfer rationale laid bare Chelsea will play the winner of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday's FIFA Club World Cup final after two Joao Pedro goals were enough to sink Fluminense in New Jersey footballlondon Bookmark Share Comments Chelsea By Bobby Vincent Chelsea Writer 06:00, 9 JUL 2025 Updated 08:13, 9 JUL 2025 Bookmark Joao Pedro scored twice to send Chelsea to the FIFA Club World Cup final (Image: Michael Regan - FIFA) Sign up to the free Chelsea newsletter for the latest Blues news straight to your inbox More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Sign up to the free Chelsea newsletter for the latest Blues news straight to your inbox Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice If people didn't know after the first, they did by the second. Joao Pedro is the real deal - and his two goals at the MetLife Stadium on Tuesday proved just that. Precision, guile and finesse were all on show as he beat veteran goalkeeper Fabio from 25 yards just 18 minutes into the game. Power, technique and fearlessness were on display for his second - with FIFA's analysts clocking the strike to have hit 75 miles per hour - to ensure Chelsea will be returning to New Jersey on Sunday for the Club World Cup final. The Brazilian showed his classy side as well against his former club. After representing Fluminense for eight years between 2011 and 2019, the new Chelsea forward decided against celebrating. There would have been nothing more Joao Pedro wanted to do than celebrate his first two Chelsea goals on his full debut, but he showed his character by paying respect instead. "That's simple. When I was young I didn't have anything and they gave me everything," Joao Pedro replied when asked about Fluminense and his decision not to celebrate either of his goals. "They showed me to the world. I'm here because they believed in me. I am very grateful, but this is football and I have to my job." Signed for £55million 10 days ago , the 23-year-old has paid almost half of that back already. Chelsea have earned £22.1million for reaching the final of the revamped competition. While Enzo Maresca admitted post-match that the money the club win does not really impact him on a day-to-day basis, it certainly helps the Blues when it comes to balancing the books in terms of their finances. As for Joao Pedro, Chelsea have now got a really exciting prospect on their hands. Many were not sure about the role the versatile Brazil international was going to adopt when signing for the club, but in his first two appearances, he has done superbly in the No.9 slot. Against Fluminense, who started with a low block to try and frustrate Chelsea, Joao Pedro's ability to break a defence proved invaluable. "We knew how good he was as a player," Maresca said post-match . "The reason why we brought him is because this season we faced many teams with a low block. His quality is very good against this kind of team. As a player, as a person, first of all, he is from Brazil. Most of the Brazilian players are very happy with their journey with football. "Also, he worked with a friend of mine in Brighton, Roberto De Zerbi. I spoke with Roberto a while ago. This is exactly the way he should play. It doesn't mean that he is going to be all season like this. It's not going to happen. But it's good to have him also as an option." This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Club World Cup on DAZN Watch the Club World Cup free on DAZN The FIFA Club World Cup will see 32 of the world's best club teams including Man City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich play across 63 games from June 14-July 13. Fans can watch every match live and for free by signing up to DAZN. £0 DAZN Get DAZN here Palmer left furious at Jackson Nicolas Jackson was once again left on the bench for the semi-final. The 24-year-old striker was sent off in the group stage defeat to Flamengo and was therefore ineligible for the next two matches. Jackson made the squad against Palmeiras but was not used from the bench - something that raised more questions over his future following the arrivals of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap . He did, however, come on against Fluminense on Tuesday. Jackson, like any striker with aspirations of becoming the cream of the crop one day, was absolutely desperate to score. In one instance, maybe too desperate and it led to Cole Palmer venting his frustration at his colleague. Bearing down from the left-hand side, Jackson ran into some space. He then tried to catch the goalkeeper out with an early shot but the angle was tight and it unsurprisingly was off target. Palmer, in yards of space across goal, could not believe his eyes when his teammate did not lay the ball off in his direction for what looked a simple tap-in. Palmer then shouted in Jackson's direction before the former kicked the goal post in anger. Fortunately, Chelsea did not need that goal in the end. But you try telling Palmer it doesn't matter. Chelsea sweat on Caicedo Quite regularly in games, Moises Caicedo finds himself hurt. That is the sort of player he is. The Ecuadorian is a typically all-or-nothing type of midfielder and that was the case on Tuesday when he went in for a tackle and came out of it with an injured ankle. Again, typically, Caicedo wanted to play on. Chelsea had already made their five substitutes at this point. Deep into stoppage time, Maresca had no problem with Caicedo sitting out of the final moments of the game but Chelsea's Player of the Season did not want to miss a single kick. However, he could not finish the game and limped off with help from the physio. With the winner of Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid - both teams who have world-class midfielders - to come in the final, it is a real concern for Maresca, who is also missing Dario Essugo through injury. The Blues head coach said : "Dario had a muscle problem yesterday during the session, so he is going to be ready for next season. Moi, with his ankle, when it happened I told him, because there were just two or three games to go, I told him that we could play with 10 players. "It's important that we don't get too worked up because we have a game on Sunday, but we felt that we could try and we can play. Hopefully he can be fit on Sunday, we'll see." Either way, the form of Enzo Fernandez means Chelsea would miss Caicedo less. Different players? Yes. Would Chelsea still miss Caicedo? Of course. Fernandez, though, has been one of the shining lights at the Club World Cup. With three assists to his name in the competition, no player has set more goals up than Fernandez. His latest was a peach, too. Delivering a perfectly weighted ball towards Joao Pedro. Chelsea's No.8, around five miles west of the Empire State, put it on a plate. Joao Pedro's finish? Great. This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Sky Sports deal Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more. Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more. £35 Sky Get Sky Sports here Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Football London Facebook X (Twitter) Comment More On Chelsea Club World Cup Joao Pedro Cole Palmer Nicolas Jackson Enzo Maresca Moises Caicedo

Joao Pedro scored twice to send Chelsea to the FIFA Club World Cup final (Image: Michael Regan - FIFA)

If people didn't know after the first, they did by the second.

Joao Pedro is the real deal - and his two goals at the MetLife Stadium on Tuesday proved just that. Precision, guile and finesse were all on show as he beat veteran goalkeeper Fabio from 25 yards just 18 minutes into the game. Power, technique and fearlessness were on display for his second - with FIFA's analysts clocking the strike to have hit 75 miles per hour - to ensure Chelsea will be returning to New Jersey on Sunday for the Club World Cup final.

The Brazilian showed his classy side as well against his former club. After representing Fluminense for eight years between 2011 and 2019, the new Chelsea forward decided against celebrating. There would have been nothing more Joao Pedro wanted to do than celebrate his first two Chelsea goals on his full debut, but he showed his character by paying respect instead.

"That's simple. When I was young I didn't have anything and they gave me everything," Joao Pedro replied when asked about Fluminense and his decision not to celebrate either of his goals. "They showed me to the world. I'm here because they believed in me. I am very grateful, but this is football and I have to my job."

Signed for £55million 10 days ago , the 23-year-old has paid almost half of that back already. Chelsea have earned £22.1million for reaching the final of the revamped competition. While Enzo Maresca admitted post-match that the money the club win does not really impact him on a day-to-day basis, it certainly helps the Blues when it comes to balancing the books in terms of their finances.

As for Joao Pedro, Chelsea have now got a really exciting prospect on their hands. Many were not sure about the role the versatile Brazil international was going to adopt when signing for the club, but in his first two appearances, he has done superbly in the No.9 slot. Against Fluminense, who started with a low block to try and frustrate Chelsea, Joao Pedro's ability to break a defence proved invaluable.

"We knew how good he was as a player," Maresca said post-match . "The reason why we brought him is because this season we faced many teams with a low block. His quality is very good against this kind of team. As a player, as a person, first of all, he is from Brazil. Most of the Brazilian players are very happy with their journey with football.

"Also, he worked with a friend of mine in Brighton, Roberto De Zerbi. I spoke with Roberto a while ago. This is exactly the way he should play. It doesn't mean that he is going to be all season like this. It's not going to happen. But it's good to have him also as an option."

Palmer left furious at Jackson

Nicolas Jackson was once again left on the bench for the semi-final. The 24-year-old striker was sent off in the group stage defeat to Flamengo and was therefore ineligible for the next two matches. Jackson made the squad against Palmeiras but was not used from the bench - something that raised more questions over his future following the arrivals of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap .

He did, however, come on against Fluminense on Tuesday. Jackson, like any striker with aspirations of becoming the cream of the crop one day, was absolutely desperate to score. In one instance, maybe too desperate and it led to Cole Palmer venting his frustration at his colleague.

Bearing down from the left-hand side, Jackson ran into some space. He then tried to catch the goalkeeper out with an early shot but the angle was tight and it unsurprisingly was off target. Palmer, in yards of space across goal, could not believe his eyes when his teammate did not lay the ball off in his direction for what looked a simple tap-in.

Palmer then shouted in Jackson's direction before the former kicked the goal post in anger. Fortunately, Chelsea did not need that goal in the end. But you try telling Palmer it doesn't matter.

Chelsea sweat on Caicedo

Quite regularly in games, Moises Caicedo finds himself hurt. That is the sort of player he is. The Ecuadorian is a typically all-or-nothing type of midfielder and that was the case on Tuesday when he went in for a tackle and came out of it with an injured ankle.

Again, typically, Caicedo wanted to play on. Chelsea had already made their five substitutes at this point. Deep into stoppage time, Maresca had no problem with Caicedo sitting out of the final moments of the game but Chelsea's Player of the Season did not want to miss a single kick.

However, he could not finish the game and limped off with help from the physio. With the winner of Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid - both teams who have world-class midfielders - to come in the final, it is a real concern for Maresca, who is also missing Dario Essugo through injury.

The Blues head coach said : "Dario had a muscle problem yesterday during the session, so he is going to be ready for next season. Moi, with his ankle, when it happened I told him, because there were just two or three games to go, I told him that we could play with 10 players.

"It's important that we don't get too worked up because we have a game on Sunday, but we felt that we could try and we can play. Hopefully he can be fit on Sunday, we'll see."

Either way, the form of Enzo Fernandez means Chelsea would miss Caicedo less. Different players? Yes. Would Chelsea still miss Caicedo? Of course. Fernandez, though, has been one of the shining lights at the Club World Cup.

With three assists to his name in the competition, no player has set more goals up than Fernandez. His latest was a peach, too. Delivering a perfectly weighted ball towards Joao Pedro.

Chelsea's No.8, around five miles west of the Empire State, put it on a plate. Joao Pedro's finish? Great.