Chelsea survive almighty scare as ‘little Messi’ dazzles future employers: CWC Wrap

Chelsea is the first UEFA side through to the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals after the English Premier League club saw off spirited Brazilian outfit Palmeiras 2-1 in their quarter-final in front of 65,782 fans in Philadelphia.

The deciding goal came through a stroke of luck as Malo Gusto’s cross caught a deflection off Palmeiras defender Agustín Giay and beat wrong-footed Palmeiras goalkeeper Weverton Pereira da Silva.

The 83rd minute own goal was a cruel end to Palmeiras’ campaign as they threatened to cause an upset with teenage sensation Estêvão scoring a stunning equaliser against his future employers.

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The late defensive blunder also denied the tournament an all-Brazilian semi-final as Chelsea will face Fluminense in the final four.

Cole Palmer scored the opening goal in the 16th minute to unleash his famous ‘too cold’ celebration for the first time in the tournament as he finally got his name on the scoresheet.

Chelsea's English midfielder #10 Cole Palmer (L) celebrates with teammate Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez (R) after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarterfinal football match between Brazil's Palmeiras and England's Chelsea at the Lincoln Financial Field Stadium in Philadelphia on July 4, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) Source: AFP

It was a welcome return to the scoresheet for Palmer after his teammates have benefitted from his creativity in the earlier rounds, but this time, the 23-year-old who scored 15 goals in the Blues’ last Premier League campaign, reaped the rewards himself.

A superb left-footed strike into the bottom corner of the net from near the edge of the box followed an exquisite first touch that opened up the space to shoot and score.

Either side of half time Palmeiras looked dangerous, and they broke through via teenager Estêvão in the 53rd minute.

The 18-year-old attacker smashed home an incredible strike on his right foot, his weaker foot, at the near post after a touch that took him away from goal.

Estêvão’s sublime goal, his first of the tournament, came against his future employers.

Chelsea signed the young Brazilian a year ago for £29.1 million (A$60.6m), beating the likes of Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona in the race for his signature.

Palmeiras' Brazilian forward #41 Estevao Willian celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarterfinal football match between Brazil's Palmeiras and England's Chelsea at the Lincoln Financial Field Stadium in Philadelphia on July 4, 2025. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) Source: AFP

But Chelsea allowed the wunderkind, who Brazilians nicknamed ‘Messinho’ meaning ‘little Messi’, to remain in Sao Paulo for another 12 months, and then until the end of the Club World Cup.

He will make the move to London following the tournament, and he will start life at Stamford Bridge with the Chelsea hierarchy confident in his talents after a player of the match winning performance, but relieved he did not derail their campaign in the United States.

Chelsea fans would also have been buoyed by former Brighton attacker Joao Pedro making his first appearance for his new club.

The Brazilian came off the bench in the second half and threatened to add a third goal for Chelsea in stoppage time with a pair of thumping strikes, but there were kept out by Weverton.

Fellow new signing Liam Delap will miss the semi-final after he received a yellow card for a bump in an aerial contest that resembled a marking contest in an AFL game.

Levi Colwill will also sit out the clash with Fluminense after a late booking.

GIANT KILLERS DOWNED BY HERCULEAN EFFORT

Substitute Hercules struck a 70th-minute winner as Brazil’s Fluminense defeated Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal 2-1 on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the Club World Cup.

A fine left-foot finish from Matheus Martinelli had put the Rio club ahead in the 40th minute but Al Hilal’s Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo levelled six minutes into the second half before Hercules stole the show to the delight of the vast majority of the 43,091 crowd.

Al-Hilal Denied by VAR Drama in 1st half | 03:47

Al Hilal had pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament, beating Manchester City 4-3, to reach the last eight and Simone Inzaghi’s side fought hard until the end to keep their adventure alive.

They bow out of the tournament having been unbeaten through the group stage, including holding Real Madrid to a draw, and having truly made their mark on the world stage.

There was a moment’s silence before the kick-off in memory of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva who died in the early hours of Thursday after their car veered off a motorway in Spain and burst into flames.

Al Hilal’s line-up featured two of Jota’s Portugal teammates in Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo.

Fluminense's Samuel Xavier, left, and Hercules, right, celebrate after a crucial goal. Source: AP

The first half was a tight and tactical affair with few chances until Martinelli opened the scoring when he picked the ball up from Gabriel Fuentes inside the box and span out to give himself space for a left-foot shot that rocketed past Yassine Bounou.

Al Hilal went close to a quick response when Kalidou Koulibaly’s header forced Fluminense’s 44-year-old goalkeeper Fabio into a fine save.

The Saudi side were awarded a penalty when Samuel Xavier was ruled to have brought down Marcos Leonardo in the box but Dutch referee Danny Makkelie was eventually sent to the monitor where he overturned his own decision after seeing there had been no contact between the two players.

After going in at the break trailing by a goal, Al Hilal came out strongly for the second half and drew level when Koulibaly headed a Neves corner down to Marcos Leonardo who poked home.

Liverpool's Jota passed away in accident | 00:30

Al Hilal’s Brazilian full back Renan Lodi had a let off when his poor backpass fell straight at the feet of German Cano but the Fluminense striker’s attempt to round Bounou was denied by the smart work of the Moroccan keeper.

But the outcome was settled with 20 minutes remaining when halftime sub Hercules saw a shot from distance blocked but from the loose ball Samuel headed the ball back to the forward who raced into the box and fired past Bounou to make it 2-1.

Al Hilal produced a flurry of corners and some intense pressure in the final minutes as they desperately sought a way to keep their dream alive but the Brazilians were good value for their victory.

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