Joao Pedro’s perfect introduction saw him help his new side booked a place in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, as Chelsea put two past.
Chelsea took the lead within 20 minutes as Thiago Silva’s clearance of Pedro Neto’s cross landed at the feet of Joao Pedro, who’s curling stunner left Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio with no chance but to watch it loop over his head into the top corner.
The Blues would nearly double their lead just seconds after when Malo Gusto saw his header saved by the veteran goalkeeper, before they were given a scare when Marc Cucurella tracked back to make a heroic goal-line clearance to deny Hercules, who left Robert Sanchez’s glued to the spot.
As the Brazilian side hunted down an equaliser, they were given a massive opening when referee Francois Letexier pointed to the spot after a low free-kick into the box touched the arm of Trevoh Chalobah.
A VAR recommendation would eventually see the referee overturn his original decision, ruling Chalobah’s arm was in a “neutral position” and the incident was “unpunishable”.
Pedro would once again introduce himself to his new fanbase with another superb goal to secure Chelsea’s place in the final, as he sprung onto Enzo Fernandez’s ball to catch Fluminense on the break, ricocheting his effort off the crossbar into the netting.
Despite efforts to increase their goal tally, albeit denied by heroic defending by their former captain Thiago Silva, Enzo Mareca’s men would book their place and set up a match against either Paris Saint Germain or Real Madrid in the final, who play on Wednesday, July 9 at 20:00 UK time.
