Chelsea produced one of the greatest performances in the club’s history to stun Paris Saint-Germain( PSG) 3-0 and lift the FIFA Club World Cup at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Two first-half goals from Cole Palmer and a third from Joao Pedro sealed a dominant victory over a PSG side that had been heavily tipped to win the competition.
Palmer, who has emerged as one of Chelsea’s standout players in recent months, struck twice in quick succession in the 22nd and 30th minutes both goals showcasing his trademark composure and sharp finishing.
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Joao Pedro added a third just before half-time, finishing a sweeping counterattack that left PSG’s defence exposed and flat-footed.
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PSG, who had cruised past top sides in both Europe and during this Club World Cup campaign, looked shell-shocked in the face of Chelsea’s relentless pressing and tactical organisation under manager Enzo Maresca.
The French champions mounted a stronger challenge in the second half, with Ousmane Dembele rattling the post and Vitinha firing narrowly wide, but Chelsea’s defence marshalled by a commanding Levi Colwill stood firm.
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To compound PSG’s misery, midfielder Joao Neves was shown a straight red card late in the game for an off-the-ball incident involving Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella.
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It was a dream night for Chelsea and a tactical masterclass from Maresca, who now adds international silverware to his burgeoning managerial resume.
