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At the FIFA Club World Cup in Philadelphia, Chelsea and Fluminense emerged victorious in their quarter-final clashes, securing semi-final berths with hard-fought 2-1 wins over Palmeiras and Al-Hilal, respectively.
Chelsea Edge Palmeiras in Tense Quarter-Final Clash
Chelsea secured their spot in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Palmeiras in Philadelphia, halting the Brazilian side's unbeaten streak of four matches (two wins, two draws).
The Blues, managed by Enzo Maresca, aimed to avoid another upset against Brazilian opposition after a previous Club World Cup defeat.
The match ignited early when Cole Palmer tested Palmeiras goalkeeper Weverton with a curling shot from outside the box in the fourth minute, only for Weverton to make a sharp save. Palmer, however, broke the deadlock at the 16-minute mark, calmly slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner after a deft first touch. "We knew we had to start fast to unsettle them," Palmer said post-match, as reported by Chelsea's official X account.
Chelsea dominated the first half, with Palmer setting up Christopher Nkunku for a golden chance, but the Frenchman skied his effort. Palmeiras nearly equalized just before halftime when Vanderlan's header was brilliantly denied by Robert Sánchez's diving save. "That stop was massive for us," Maresca noted on X, praising his goalkeeper's reflexes.
The second half saw Palmeiras fight back, with Chelsea's incoming starlet Estevao leveling the score with a thunderous strike off the crossbar, leaving Sanchez helpless. "He's a special talent," Maresca admitted of Estevao, whose transfer to Chelsea is set for later in 2025.
Palmeiras pressed for a lead, but Allan's low drive narrowly missed the post.
The decisive moment came with seven minutes remaining when Malo Gusto's cross deflected off Bruno Fuchs, wrong-footing Weverton for a fortunate Chelsea winner.
A late Noni Madueke effort struck the post, but the Blues held firm to book a semi-final showdown with Fluminense. "We're ready for the next challenge," Maresca declared on X.
Fluminense Outlast Al-Hilal in Thrilling Quarter-Final
Fluminense battled past Al-Hilal 2-1 in a gripping encounter between the last two FIFA Club World Cup runners-up, earning a semi-final berth against Chelsea. Both sides showcased slick passing early on but struggled to create clear chances in a cautious opening.
The deadlock broke in the 40th minute when Matheus Martinelli intercepted a pass and rifled a shot into the top corner, sparking wild celebrations. "That goal was all about instinct," Martinelli said, as quoted on Fluminense's official X account.
However, his joy was tempered by a booking that ruled him out of the semi-final, alongside teammates Renan Lodi and Juan Freytes, who also picked up suspensions.
Al-Hilal responded after the break, with Marcos Leonardo volleying home from a Ruben Neves corner in the 51st minute to level the score. "We showed character to fight back," Neves posted on X.
Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio, however, proved pivotal, denying Kalidou Koulibaly and surviving a VAR-overturned penalty call to keep the game tied.
The Tricolor regained the lead in the 70th minute when Hercules pounced on a headed pass from Samuel Xavier, finishing clinically. Despite a late injury to Xavier, Fluminense stood firm, with Fabio bravely thwarting Koulibaly in the dying moments. "This team never gives up," Fluminense coach Mano Menezes said on X, celebrating their 11th straight unbeaten match across all competitions.
Fluminense's victory ended Al-Hilal's run of 10 games without defeat, setting up a tantalizing semi-final clash with Chelsea. "We're ready to make history," Menezes added on X, fueling anticipation for the next round.
