Flamengo stun Chelsea with second-half blitz in Club World Cup thriller

The Brazilian side's relentless energy and clinical finishing overturned an early deficit, leaving Chelsea reeling and Flamengo three points clear at the top of the group.

Chelsea started brightly, with debutant striker Liam Delap nearly scoring in the opening minutes. The former Ipswich Town forward latched onto a precise through ball from Enzo Fernandez but saw his powerful shot parried by Flamengo goalkeeper Agustin Rossi.

"We created good chances early," Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said after the match, "but we needed to be more clinical."

The Blues broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when Pedro Neto capitalised on a fortunate bounce, outpacing two defenders and slotting calmly past Rossi for his second goal of the tournament. "Pedro's pace and composure were excellent," Maresca added.

Flamengo responded with sustained pressure, dominating possession and nearly equalising before halftime. Gerson's header was heroically cleared off the line by Levi Colwill, preserving Chelsea's lead at the break. "We knew we had to stay patient," Flamengo manager Filipe Luis, a former Chelsea defender, said. "The boys showed great character to keep pushing."

The second half belonged to Flamengo. Substitute Bruno Henrique ignited the comeback, tapping in a pinpoint header from Gonzalo Plata in the 62nd minute.

Just three minutes later, Danilo put Flamengo ahead, volleying home after Henrique's towering header from a corner. "Our set-piece work was decisive," Luís said. "The boys executed the plan perfectly." Flamengo fans, a vibrant sea of red and black, erupted in celebration, their energy transforming the stadium.

Chelsea's woes deepened in the 68th minute when substitute Nicolas Jackson received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Ayrton Lucas, leaving the Blues with ten men. "It was a moment of frustration," Maresca said of Jackson's dismissal. "We need to learn from that."

Flamengo sealed their victory in the 83rd minute when Wallace Yan capitalised on a deflected shot from Plata, steering the ball past Robert Sanchez.

The result marked Flamengo's sixth straight win across all competitions, while Chelsea's four-game winning streak ended abruptly.

The Blues now face a must-win match against ES Tunis on June 24 to secure a knockout stage spot and avoid a potential clash with Bayern Munich. Flamengo, meanwhile, look poised to dominate Group D, with Luis' tactical nous and their passionate fanbase driving them forward.