A charged atmosphere at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia set the scene for a mouthwatering Club World Cup quarter-final between Brazil’s Palmeiras and England’s Chelsea. The Blues edged a tight contest 2–1, with Cole Palmer’s early strike and a late own goal proving decisive, while Palmeiras showed grit and flair through young sensation Estevão.
Key Moments
- 16’ | Cole Palmer drifts inside from the right and curls a left-foot shot into the bottom-left corner to give Chelsea the lead.
- 53’ | Estevão cuts in from the left flank and thumps a fierce effort off the underside of the bar and in, leveling the scores early in the second half.
- 83’ | Malo Gusto’s cross-cum-shot deflects off Palmeiras keeper Weverton and dribbles over the line, handing Chelsea a fortuitous winner.
- Pre-kick-off | Both sides observed a minute’s silence in memory of Diogo Jota and André Silva, adding a solemn moment before kickoff.
Tactical Analysis
Chelsea (4-2-3-1 under Enzo Maresca)
- Dominant possession (63%) and territorial control enabled Chelsea to probe patiently, drawing Palmeiras out before striking centrally with Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku.
- Full-backs Marc Cucurella and Malo Gusto provided width and penetrative crosses, while the double pivot of Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández shielded the back four and recycled play effectively.
- High press in Palmeiras’s half forced turnovers, leading directly to Palmer’s opener and pinning the Brazilians back for long spells.
Palmeiras (4-2-3-1 under Abel Ferreira)
- Set up a compact defensive block, conceding narrow lanes and forcing Chelsea to circulate around the edge of the box.
- Relied on quick vertical transitions to spring Estevão in behind; his 18-year-old dynamo runs caused repeated havoc for the Chelsea backline.
- Central midfielders Richard Ríos and Emiliano Martínez broke up attacks and launched counter-attacks, but lacked the final pass to carve out more clear-cut chances.
Manager Quotes
Abel Ferreira, Palmeiras coach
“Never give up, never give in. When we needed to suffer, we suffered—and we deserved to progress because we work hard every day”.
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea coach
“Football is full of surprises; you have to perform on the pitch. We respect Palmeiras—they are organised, aggressive, and have quality players like Estevão and Ríos”.
Player Performances
- Cole Palmer: incisive on and off the ball, opener epitomised his movement and technical quality.
- Estevão: fearless and direct; equalising strike underlined his finishing instinct and his future-star status.
- Malo Gusto: tireless carrier on the right, his delivery produced the winning deflection.
- Weverton: made several key saves to keep Palmeiras level until his unfortunate own goal.
- Richard Ríos: engine of the midfield, broke up play and drove forward with tenacity.
Match Statistics
- Final Score: Chelsea 2 – Palmeiras 1
- Goal Scorers: Palmer (16’), Estevão (53’), Weverton OG (83’)
- Possession: Chelsea 63% – Palmeiras 37%
- Total Fouls: Chelsea 58 – Palmeiras 56
- Yellow Cards: Gusto, Delap, Ríos, Colwill (4 bookings)
What’s Next
Chelsea progress to face Fluminense in the semi-final at MetLife Stadium on July 8, maintaining their quest for a maiden Club World Cup crown. Palmeiras exit with heads held high, their fighting spirit and youthful talent promising much for the future.
