Chelsea booked their place in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup with a narrow 2-1 victory over Palmeiras, courtesy of a fortunate late own goal at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

With the tie poised and extra time seemingly inevitable, Malo Gusto’s low cross in the 83rd minute ricocheted off Agustín Giay and then goalkeeper Weverton before nestling in the back of the net—a dramatic and fortuitous conclusion to a tense encounter.

The Blues had taken the lead early in the first half through Cole Palmer, but a brilliant solo strike from 18-year-old winger Estevão Willian—who is set to join Chelsea after the tournament—drew Palmeiras level and shifted the momentum. The Brazilian side appeared the more likely to score as the match wore on, but Gusto’s late intervention secured the Londoners a last-four showdown against Fluminense.

Lively Atmosphere in Philadelphia
An enthusiastic crowd of 65,782 created a vibrant setting, with Palmeiras’ passionate supporters providing a relentless backdrop of drums and song throughout the evening. Ticket prices, which had dropped to as low as £8 earlier in the day, no doubt helped boost attendance—especially with a nearby Independence Day concert left without its headline act, LL Cool J.

Despite the noise from the stands and a late setback during the warm-up—captain Reece James was withdrawn after suffering an injury—Chelsea settled quickly and made a strong start.

Emotional Tribute Before Kick-Off
Pedro Neto, who had considered withdrawing from the match following the tragic death of Portugal team-mate Diogo Jota and Jota’s younger brother André Silva, started for Chelsea. Before kick-off, he held up a shirt bearing both brothers' names during a poignant minute’s silence.

Palmer’s Composed Opener
Cole Palmer had already tested Weverton with an early effort before opening the scoring in the 16th minute. Picking up possession just outside the area, the England international turned sharply to beat one defender, skipped past another, and unleashed a composed left-footed finish into the bottom corner.

Chelsea continued to threaten, with Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernández drawing further saves from Weverton. However, Trevoh Chalobah and Christopher Nkunku both spurned good chances, failing to hit the target when well-placed.

At the other end, Palmeiras struggled to make inroads. Cucurella had largely contained Estevão, and it wasn’t until just before half-time that Robert Sánchez was called into meaningful action, comfortably saving a header from Vanderlan. Shortly after the interval, Bruno Fuchs nodded over from a set-piece, hinting at a shift in momentum.

Estevão’s Stunner Shifts Momentum
That momentum shift was confirmed minutes later when Estevão, collecting a pass from the right, skipped inside and hammered a thunderous strike past Sánchez from a narrow angle. It was a moment of individual brilliance and a reminder of why Chelsea have invested heavily in his future.

Mauricio Pochettino reacted immediately, handing a debut to João Pedro—a £60 million signing from Brighton—as Chelsea looked to restore their advantage.

Palmeiras, buoyed by the equaliser, came close to going ahead when Allan fired narrowly wide. Levi Colwill was then called into a crucial last-ditch interception to prevent another clear opportunity.

Decisive Deflection Sends Chelsea Through
Chelsea remained a threat on the counter, and Cucurella squandered a promising opening when he fired over. But luck would finally favour the Premier League side in the closing stages. Malo Gusto’s low delivery from the right took an initial deflection off Giay before wrong-footing Weverton and crossing the line.

There was still time for substitute Noni Madueke to strike the post after a fierce low shot was brilliantly tipped onto the upright by Weverton, but Chelsea held on.

Semi-Final Suspensions and Looking Ahead
Liam Delap and Levi Colwill will miss the semi-final clash with Fluminense after picking up bookings. Nonetheless, Chelsea’s narrow yet hard-fought victory sets up what promises to be a fascinating contest against the reigning Copa Libertadores champions.