Chelsea secured their place in the FIFA Club World Cup final with a composed 2-0 victory over Fluminense, thanks to a brace from João Pedro on his full debut.

The Brazilian forward marked his first start for the Blues in emphatic style, scoring both goals as Enzo Maresca’s side booked a return to the MetLife Stadium on Sunday, where they will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid in the final.

João Pedro Haunts Former Club
Fluminense, widely considered the surprise package of the tournament, found the semi-final stage a step too far. Their fairytale run ended at the hands of Premier League giants Chelsea, in a match that also saw veteran defender Thiago Silva line up against his former club.

Chelsea made three changes to the side that defeated Palmeiras in the quarter-finals, two of which were enforced due to suspensions. Among the adjustments, João Pedro replaced Liam Delap — a decision that paid immediate dividends.

The £60 million summer signing from Brighton & Hove Albion opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a sensational strike. After Fluminense failed to clear their lines from a cross, Pedro latched onto the loose ball and curled a superb effort into the top far corner. Out of respect for his former club, he opted not to celebrate.

Chelsea Survive First-Half Pressure
Chelsea nearly doubled their advantage shortly after the opener when Malo Gusto met a cross with a free header, only to direct it straight at goalkeeper Fábio.

Fluminense responded well, coming close to an equaliser. Quarter-final hero Hércules was inches away from levelling the tie, poking the ball past Robert Sánchez, but Marc Cucurella reacted quickly to clear off the line and preserve Chelsea’s lead.

Drama followed when the Brazilian side were awarded a penalty for handball against Trevoh Chalobah, only for VAR to overturn the decision following a review, keeping the score at 1–0 going into the break.

João Pedro Seals the Win
Chelsea’s dominance resumed in the second half, and Pedro doubled the lead just before the hour mark with another brilliant finish.

After collecting a precise pass from Enzo Fernández just beyond the halfway line, the 22-year-old surged forward, cut inside the box, and unleashed a fierce shot that rattled the underside of the crossbar before nestling in the net — a memorable full debut for the Brazil international.

Chelsea continued to control proceedings as Fluminense struggled to respond, and Maresca’s side comfortably saw out the match to book their spot in the final.

With the win, Chelsea will now await the result of the second semi-final between PSG and Real Madrid to determine their opponent in Sunday’s Club World Cup final.