Chelsea secured a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Brazilian side Palmeiras to advance to the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup, overcoming a moment of brilliance from their soon-to-be signing, Estevao Willian.

Cole Palmer opened the scoring in the 16th minute, calmly slotting home to give the Blues an early lead. 

However, the spotlight soon shifted to Estevao, the 18-year-old Brazilian prodigy, who stunned his future teammates with a spectacular equalizer from a tight angle in the 53rd minute.

The decisive moment came late in the match when Malo Gusto’s cross deflected off defender Agustin Giay and goalkeeper Weverton, resulting in an own goal that sealed Chelsea’s passage to the next round2.

Estevao, who is set to join Chelsea in a deal reportedly worth £52 million, showcased his immense talent in what may be his final appearance for Palmeiras.

Chelsea also handed a debut to Joao Pedro, their £55 million acquisition from Brighton. 

However, the win came at a cost—Liam Delap and Levi Colwill both received yellow cards and will miss the semi-final due to suspension, while captain Reece James was sidelined after sustaining an injury during the warm-up3.

The Blues will now face fellow Brazilian club Fluminense in the semi-final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Tuesday

Source: BBC

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