Chelsea Respond Strongly in Club World Cup Clash
Chelsea showed their fight and flair against ES Tunis, notching up a comfortable 3-0 result in Philadelphia that keeps their FIFA Club World Cup hopes alive. After a disappointing defeat to Flamengo, the pressure was on, but Enzo Maresca’s men answered with style, determination, and just enough tactical discipline.
The Chelsea boss made the bold call to rest some of his biggest names for this match at Lincoln Financial Field. Cole Palmer and goalkeeper Robert Sánchez both started on the bench, while Nicolas Jackson was still serving a suspension. But even without some of their regular starters, Chelsea looked much sharper than in their previous outing.
The breakthrough came deep into first-half stoppage time, catching ES Tunis flat-footed. Center-back Tosin Adarabioyo powered home a header in the 45th minute plus three, taking full advantage after a set-piece left the Tunisian defense all over the place. The celebration barely died down before Liam Delap smashed in Chelsea's second. Delap, who’s still fresh at Stamford Bridge, finally got his debut goal for the club right on the cusp of halftime. For a player still finding his feet in blue, that goal will mean a lot—and with Jackson out, Chelsea fans will be hoping it’s the first of many.
Chelsea didn’t let the pressure off in the second half, even though the urgency dropped a notch after their double strike before the break. The team worked hard to control the tempo, constantly edging ES Tunis off the ball and shutting down counterattacks. Maresca made sure his squad focused on keeping things tidy at the back rather than chasing more goals—he knows how important clean sheets are in tight tournaments like this.
ES Tunis had a few half-chances to get back into the match, but Chelsea’s defense kept its cool. In extra time, Tyrique George put the game fully out of reach. He finished off a flowing attack in the 95th minute, capitalizing on another error from the ES Tunis backline. Three goals on the night, three different scorers, and a performance built on teamwork and concentration rather than just individual brilliance.
What This Means For Chelsea Going Forward
So how do things look in Group D? Flamengo topped the group with seven points and a strong goal difference of +4, but Chelsea's 3-0 win moved them above ES Tunis on goal difference, snatching second place. LAFC’s struggles mean they end their campaign without a point.
The next challenge is a big one: Benfica, Group C winners, are waiting in Charlotte for the Round of 16 on June 29. It looks likely that Maresca will keep rotating his squad, especially with Nicolas Jackson still suspended following the red card against Flamengo. The rest he gave to core players tonight might prove crucial as the fixtures pile up.
If Chelsea can deliver the same hunger and defensive focus they showed against ES Tunis, they’ll fancy their chances against Benfica. With momentum, squad depth, and a few unsung heroes stepping up, Chelsea’s adventure at the FIFA Club World Cup is looking a lot more exciting than it did a few days ago.
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