Chelsea forward Joao Pedro produced a dazzling display, scoring twice in the 2-0 win over Fluminense, to send his side to the final of the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Brazilian marked his first start for the Blues with a stunning individual performance, netting a goal in each half to complete the victory.
Pedro, 23, completed a £60 million move to Chelsea from Brighton and Hove Albion last week and immediately joined his teammates in the United States.
Read this: Chelsea complete Joao Pedro signing
The forward made his debut in last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Palmeiras in the quarterfinals of the competition, displaying an impressive cameo off-the-bench.
Enzo Maresca made a surprise decision on Tuesday, handing Joao Pedro a starting spot in the semifinal tie against Fluminense, his boyhood club, ahead of Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap, although it proved decisive as the new addition scored twice on the day.
He produced a stunning curler in the 18th minute from outside the area to give Chelsea the lead, his first goal from outside the box in 70 games.
Marc Cucurella cleared an effort from Hercules off the line as Fluminense pushed for an equalizer before the Blues were saved by the Video Assistant Referee late in the half.
The center referee had initially awarded a penalty kick to the Brazilians after a handball by Trevoh Chalobah, but a VAR review changed the decision to the fury of the Fluminense players.
Pedro grabbed his and Chelsea’s second of the game in the 56th minute, producing another stunner past Fabio in the opposing goal.
The Blues sealed out the win to secure their spot in the final of the competition, where they will face the winner of the other semifinal tie between the past two European champions, Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
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