Fluminense 0-2 Chelsea Highlights, FIFA Club World Cup 2025 SF: Joao Pedro Nets Brace To Send Blues To Finals

A very warm welcome to all our readers tuning in for the late-night semi-final clash between Fluminense and Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. It’s a clash between Rio and London at New Jersey today, and the action begins at 12:30 AM IST.

Stay tuned for pre-match updates and lineups as they are announced.

Fans can watch the Fluminense vs Chelsea match live on the DAZN website, which is the global streaming partner of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

The match will not be televised in India.

There are a couple of familiar faces in today’s match, making an appearance against their old sides. 40-year-old Thiago Silva, a rock-like presence in the heart of Fluminense’s defence, spent four years at Chelsea – making 113 appearances – before moving to the Brazilian side at the end of his contract.

Meanwhile, Blues’ new boy Joao Pedro – a £60 million purchase from Brighton – made his senior debut for Fluminense in 2019, having made his way through their youth system. He scored 10 times for the Rio-based side before moving on to Watford.

Fluminense:

• Matchday 1: Fluminense 0-0 Borussia Dortmund

• Matchday 2: Fluminense 4-2 Ulsan HD

• Matchday 3: Mamelodi Sundowns 0-0 Fluminense

• Round of 16: Inter Milan 0-2 Fluminense

• Quarter-final: Fluminense 2-1 Al-Hilal

Chelsea:

• Matchday 1: Chelsea 2-0 LAFC

• Matchday 2: Flamengo 3-1 Chelsea

• Matchday 3: ES Tunis 0-3 Chelsea

• Round of 16: Benfica 1-4 Chelsea

• Quarter-final: Palmeiras 1-2 Chelsea

Starting XI: Robert Sanchez; Marc Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Malo Gusto; Enzo Fernandez (c), Moises Caicedo; Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto; Joao Pedro

Bench: Filip Jorgensen (gk), Gabriel Slonina (gk), Mike Penders, Aaron Anselmino, Josh Acheampong, Mamadou Sarr, Reece James, Andrey Santos, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, Tyrique George

Starting XI: Fabio; Thiago Santos, Thiago Silva (c), Ignacio; Rene, Facundo Bernal, Hercules, Guga; German Cano, Nonato, Jhon Arias

Bench: Vitor Eudes (gk), Gabriel Fuentes, Manoel Messias, Samuel Xavier, Ganso, Isaque, Ruben Lezcano, Vinicius Lima, Agustin Canobbio, Everaldo, Joaquin Lavega, Kevin Serna, Paulo Baya, Yeferson Soteldo

A triple change in the Chelsea squad from their quarter-final encounter against Palmeiras. Firstly, Joao Pedro replaces Andre Santos in the starting line-up, with the latter going back to the bench. Levi Colwill and Liam Delap – both suspended for the match – are replaced by Tosin Adarabioyo and Moises Caicedo.

One big team selection call from Enzo Maresca is the inclusion of Noni Madueke on the bench. The English forward, who joined from PSV Eindhoven in 2023, has been linked with a summer exit to Arsenal. However, manager Enzo Maresca is confident that Madueke will not let the transfer noise get into his head ahead of the must-win game tonight.

Read all about the Chelsea manager’s comments.

Fluminense are playing against Chelsea tonight. El Tricolor have played against English opponents 11 times (including friendlies), and have won and lost five games each.

The last time Fluminense faced an English side in the FIFA Club World Cup was in the 2023 final, losing to Machester City by 4-0.

The first semi-final of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is underway in the sweltering heat of New Jersey! Can Fluminense secure one of the shocks of the tournament and take the game to Chelsea?

FLU 0-0 CHE (0’)

A bright start from both sides. Chelsea, obviously, have slightly more ball possession, but Fluminense already had a shot away, and are using the flanks well to push the Chelsea defenders back.

FLU 0-0 CHE (5’)

Three quick shots from Chelsea, the last two from Enzo Fernandez really putting Fabio under pressure. The Blues are growing into the game, and Fluminense’s flat 4-3-3 formation is struggling with their pace at the moment.

FLU 0-0 CHE (13’)

What a goal from Joao Pedro!! The ex-Fluminense boy scores a banger in his first start for the club. A cross from Enzo from the left flank is cleared by the defender but it falls to Pedro outside the box. He readies himself and shoots from 20 yards out, and the bullet shot curls and nestles into the top right corner.

Pedro refuses to celebrate against his former club, but it’s one of the goals of the tournament so far.

FLU 0-1 CHE (18’)

How close can Fluminense come without scoring?! Hercules, who scored against Al-Hilal, was played through the left side by German Cano. Sanchez opts to stay on the line, and the Brazilian attacker puts it in between the goalkeeper’s legs only for Cucurella to clear it directly on the line. The referee takes a look at his watch, and it’s NO GOAL.

FLU 0-1 CHE (26’)

Clumsy from Chalobah as the ball hits his arm in the box, and the referee immediately points to the spot. There’s a long VAR check, and the decision – NO PENALTY! The ref decides that Chalobah’s arm position while Santos’ shot hit it was ‘natural’, so the penalty is overturned. A lifeline for the Blues, but Chalobah will need to be careful.

FLU 0-1 CHE (36’)

A minimum of five minutes to be added on at the end of the first half, indicates the fourth official. Fluminense had a decent opening as the ball is floated in towards Hercules, but his header is cleared – again – by Cucurella.

FLU 0-1 CHE (45’)

The referee blows for half-time, and both sets of players will get some respite from the heat. Chelsea will be the happier of the two sides courtesy of a not-so-bad goal from Joao Pedro, but Maresca will know that the match is far from over against a late-scoring Fluminense side.

FLU 0-1 CHE (HT)

The second half is underway at MetLife Stadium, with Chelsea having a slender lead courtesy of Joao Pedro. No half-time changes for either side.

Can Fluminense complete another comeback in the Club World Cup, or will the English favourites prevail?

FLU 0-1 CHE (45’)

The Blues have kept up their first-half momentum and started strongly. Caicedo has a shot at goal from outside the box, but it sails wide over the bar. The Blues have 57% of ball possession at the moment.

FLU 0-1 CHE (50’)

Who else but Joao Pedro again! Right after Fluminense made a relatively attack-minded double substitution, Chelsea’s new boy scored another top-notch goal following a lethal break and some good work by Enzo Fernandez. The midfielder plays it off to the Brazilian to cut back to his right to send it to the back of the net off the crossbar.

FLU 0-2 CHE (56’)

Fluminense are really struggling at the moment to get anything going in Chelsea’s half of the pitch. Chelsea continue to push high, and Nkunku has two shots blocked in the space of two minutes. A third goal looks like a matter of time.

FLU 0-2 CHE (65’)

Nonato, blocked a few minutes earlier for a challenge on Joao Pedro, is brought off for Yeferson. Malo Gusto, who came close with his right-footed curling effort, is also brought off and on comes Reece James. Noni Madueke is on as well.

FLU 0-2 CHE (68’)

Chelsea are dominating the play, with 14 shots so far and five of those on target. Cucurella, enjoying a lot of space down the left flank, puts in a dangerous-looking cross, which is cleared by Thiago Silva.

Cooling break.

FLU 0-2 CHE (76’)

With just ten minutes of regulation time left to play, Nicolas Jackson has a pop at goal. The substitute wins the ball well and shoots with his right from the edge of the box, but it goes just wide of the post. Palmer is not happy at the centre that the ball was not fed to him!

Jackson gets another chance just three minutes later as Madueke plays him through, but the angle is difficult and the shot is parried away by Fabio.

FLU 0-2 CHE (83’)

The fourth official holds up his board. A minimum of six minutes to be added on at the end of the 90 minutes of play. Chelsea are all but through to the Club World Cup finals unless Fluminense pull off a rabbit from the hat.

FLU 0-2 CHE (90’)

It’s all over at the MetLife Stadium. Chelsea’s title pursuit goes on, and Fluminense’s fairytale run crashes and burns in New Jersey’s hot afternoon. The Brazilian side had a couple of efforts in injury time, but Canobbio and Keno’s efforts did not put Sanchez under much trouble, and the Blues held on for a two-goal win.

However, Caicedo’s late injury scare will be a cause of concern for Maresca, with the Ecuadorian coming off after hurting his ankle. But, for now, the Blue side of London will be in party mode.

FLU 0-2 CHE (FT)