Chelsea forward Cole Palmer was the star of the show as produced a stellar display to lead his side to a 3-0 rout of PSG in the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday.
The 23-year-old produced a scintillating first half display, scoring twice and setting up a third as the Blues pulled off an upset victory against the European champions.
The French side were favorites heading into the final at the MetLife Stadium on Sunday, having already dispatched Bayern Munich and Real Madrid on their path to reaching the final.
Chelsea started the match brightly and should have been ahead when Palmer missed a glorious opportunity early in the first half.
The England international however made amends for his missed chance by slotting into the bottom corner in the 22nd minute after receiving a pass from Malo Gusto to give the Blues the lead.
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Moments later, Palmer doubled his and Chelsea’s advantage with a brilliant individual goal, after receiving the ball from defender Levi Colwill.
The former Manchester City man then turned provider, finding Joao Pedro who beat the offside trap before chipping Gianluigi Donnarumma in the PSG goal to make it three.
Robert Sanchez produced an incredible save early in the second half to deny Ousmane Dembele, before saving a shot from Vitinha minutes later to preserve his clean sheet.
Substitute Liam Delap, who had come on for Joao Pedro, was denied by two brilliant saves by Donnarumma, as the lead remained three.
PSG’s night went from bad to worse as Portugal midfielder Joao Neves was given his marching orders for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair.
With this win, Chelsea became the first champions of the new-look Club World Cup and booked their spot in the 2029 edition.
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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