Chelsea edge Palmeiras in extra time for Club World Cup glory

Soccer Football - Club World Cup - Final - Chelsea v Palmeiras - Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - February 12, 2022 Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta lifts the trophy after winning the Club World Cup REUTERS/Suhaib Salem
Chelsea lifted the Club World Cup for the first time after an extra-time
win against Brazilian side Palmeiras.
A 117th-minute penalty in Abu Dhabi by Kai Havertz - who scored their
2021 Champions League winner - means the Blues have now won every possible
trophy under owner Roman Abramovich.
Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring with a header in the second half before
Raphael Veiga levelled from the spot.
Much like in their semi-final victory against Al-Hilal, Chelsea
dominated possession but struggled to create chances for much of the game.
Their cutting edge did not improve when Mason Mount was forced off
through injury, as he was in their recent FA Cup tie with Plymouth, as Romelu
Lukaku continued to cut an isolated figure up front.
Palmeiras, meanwhile, looked to make the most of their threat on the
counter-attack, with the pace of Rony and Dudu stretching the Blues defence but
clear-cut chances were hard to come by.
Nine minutes after the break, Lukaku made the breakthrough when Callum
Hudson-Odoi sent in a pinpoint cross for the first time and the striker powered
a header past Weverton.
Christian Pulisic, Mount's replacement, went close with a shot from
distance after a smart lay-off from Lukaku as the English side looked to cement
their control.
But just past the hour, Palmeiras restored parity. Thiago Silva was
adjudged to have handled in the area after a check on the pitch-side monitor
and Veiga converted emphatically from 12 yards to send the game into extra
time.
With a penalty shoot-out looming, Chelsea secured the trophy with a
penalty of their own. Luan's handball was also checked on the monitor before
Germany playmaker Havertz fired home.
Luan was then dismissed for a foul on the match winner in the final
minute, after the referee was told to consult with his monitor for a third
time.
Want to send us a story? SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp 0743570000 or Submit on Citizen Digital or email wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a Comment