Chelsea have booked their place in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final after a convincing 2–0 victory over Brazilian champions Fluminense on Tuesday night in New Jersey.
The hero of the night was João Pedro, who netted both goals against his former club in a performance that underlined Chelsea’s growing form under new manager Enzo Maresca.
Pedro opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a sublime long-range strike that curled into the top right corner.
The Brazilian forward, out of respect for Fluminense, where he began his career, chose not to celebrate the goal.
The Blues continued to dominate possession and tempo, and it paid off again in the 56th minute when Pedro added a second.
A quick counterattack caught the Fluminense defence off guard, and the striker smashed a powerful shot in off the crossbar to double Chelsea’s lead.
Despite a spirited response from the Copa Libertadores winners, Chelsea’s defence stood firm.
Fluminense were denied a potential lifeline late in the second half when a penalty award was overturned by VAR.
Chelsea now advances to the final on Sunday, July 13, where they will face the winner of the second semifinal between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.