[Subscription Customers Only] Jul 8, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Fluminense FC ahead Yeferson Soteldo (7) in motion with Chelsea FC defender Marc Cucurella (3) throughout a semifinal match of the 2025 FIFA Membership World Cup at MetLife Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Amanda Perobelli-Reuters through Imagn Pictures João Pedro scored a brace towards his boyhood membership in his first begin for his new group, main Chelsea into the FIFA Membership World Cup remaining with a 2-0 semifinal victory over Fluminense on Tuesday afternoon in East Rutherford, N.J.
The 23-year-old declined to have fun both emphatic tally in simply his second look for the Blues, one which propelled the London aspect into their second main worldwide remaining in three months.
After profitable the UEFA Europa Convention League remaining 4-1 over Actual Betis on Might 28 in Wroclaw, Poland, Chelsea on Sunday will face the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between Actual Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. Each these matches are additionally in New Jersey.
Fluminense of Rio de Janeiro is the ultimate non-European group to be eradicated in a match the place all 4 Brazilian entrants reached the knockout part, together with two that reached the quarterfinals.
After beforehand showing within the 2023 remaining of the Membership World Cup’s earlier, smaller format, their return was prevented by certainly one of their very own.
Pedro got here up by Fluminense’s youth academy, however after 25 appearances within the Brazilian high flight in 2019 was off to England to play first with Watford after which Brighton and Hove Albion. Then this summer season, he made a transfer to Chelsea for a reported $82 million switch payment.
He debuted off the bench in Chelsea’s second-round win over Palmeiras final Friday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in his first begin Tuesday required solely 18 minutes to place his former membership behind.
He created the assault himself, profitable the ball again shortly in midfield and shortly enjoying Pedro Neto down the best.
Neto’s low cross into the field was cleared solely so far as João Pedro on the fringe of the field, the place he took two fast touches earlier than bending a superb right-footed end past Fábio and into the highest proper nook.
The end on his second rating within the 56th minute was even higher.
After reaching Enzo Fernández’s outlet ball down the left, João Pedro dribbled into the left aspect of the field, in the reduction of throughout one Fluminense defender to enhance his capturing angle, then fired in one other ferocious strike that caught the underside of the crossbar on its manner into Fábio’s aim.
Between these tallies, Fluminense noticed two essential possibilities break towards them later within the first half.
Within the twenty sixth minute, Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella slid to clear Hércules’ effort off the aim line with Robert Sánchez overwhelmed.
Within the thirty sixth, referee Francois Letexier overruled his personal penalty choice following a video evaluation, deciding after consulting replay that Trevoh Chalobah’s arm had been in a pure place subsequent to his physique.
–Subject Degree Media
