Two wins away from lifting the Club World Cup trophy, Premier League giants Chelsea go face the last South American warrior standing, Fluminense, for Tuesday night semi-final showdown.
After Chelsea manage push aside Palmeiras and Fluminense show big team spirit beat Al-Hilal, both sides go meet for New Jersey. Na only one thing dey on the table: who go reach final?
Match Preview
Chelsea dey enjoy one sweet run wey include lifting European trophy plus securing Champions League slot for next season. Now, dem don find demself for Club World Cup semi-final after four wins from five matches.
For the quarter-final wey pass, Chelsea knock Palmeiras 2-1. Na Cole Palmer open the scoring, and one agbaya own goal from Agustin Giay help dem seal the win — even though Estevao, wey go soon join Chelsea, still manage score against them. If dem ever needed soft reminder say future dey loaded, that na am.
Before that, Chelsea don knock out Benfica, although rain wey resemble judgment day try delay the match and allow Portuguese boys equalise. But finally, Chelsea carry the day for extra time.
Even though dem finish second behind Flamengo for Group D — and that one no too sweet — luck still shine for them small as dem avoid other European ogbonge teams. Maresca and him boys dey eye second Club World Cup title after dem first win am in 2021.
From how things dey now, Chelsea dey reason cup double after their Conference League win. And with the way Maresca don bounce back from that mid-season wahala, dem go dey expect to beat their former defender and current Fluminense captain, Thiago Silva, to book final ticket. That one go sweet dem like honey for cold pap.
But make nobody act like Fluminense come this tournament to count palm trees.
Fluminense No Come Joke
Fluminense hold ground well as dem beat money-miss-road team Al-Hilal to remain last South American rep for the tournament.
The clash wey happen for Orlando no dull — Martinelli launch one sweet finish put Flu ahead, but Al-Hilal come equalise through Marcos Leonardo wey just dey score like say na him dream job. But Hercules, the guy wey no dey carry last, come drop another clutch goal to settle the matter.
Just some days before, na the same Hercules score against Inter Milan to carry dem reach this stage. Guy no dey hide when e matter pass.
Keeper Fabio, wey don senior plenty of the players for pitch, still dey make mad saves at 44 years old. While some men dey find prostate pill, this one dey protect post. God dey do wonders.
Fluminense waka enter knockouts as Group F runners-up — one win sandwiched by two goalless draws. But guess what? Dem never lose in 11 matches. In fact, dem don hold clean sheets in five of the last seven. Na defence wey get sense.
Half of their 8 goals for this Club World Cup don land after 70th minute. Meaning, na second-half killers dem be. Meanwhile, their backline never chop more than one second-half goal. Na long-distance race dem dey run, no be 100m dash.
No be say dem dominate Brazil league o — dem even almost drop go relegation last season. But forget table talk. Dem dey on a different kind of mission. With coach Renato Gaucho don clock 100 wins, two more go carry am enter immortality if dem lift this cup.
Team News
Chelsea:
Maresca go shuffle squad small. Liam Delap and Levi Colwill collect yellow cards for the Palmeiras match, so dem go miss this semi-final.
Joao Pedro don make debut, and as Nicolas Jackson still dey hide after suspension, the Brazilian Pedro fit lead the attack. Tosin Adarabioyo go likely stand in for Colwill.
Reece James injure for warm-up last time — unlucky like guy wey order food and rider cancel. Him and Romeo Lavia still dey sidelines. Moises Caicedo don serve him ban, so expect am for starting lineup. Jamie Gittens, new signing, no go play — him no dey eligible.
Fluminense:
Dem own problem no dey small. Juan Pablo Freytes (defender) and Martinelli (midfield goal threat) don collect bans. Hercules go likely enter start now — no be say him go complain, him dey enjoy scoring from bench already.
Coach Renato Gaucho bin dey use back-three with Silva, Freytes and Ignacio, but since Freytes no go play, expect some shift.
Up front, dem still get German Cano — the man wey no dey smile for box — and Jhon Arias, wey dey cause problem everywhere. Arias dey top Fluminense stats for shots, chances, and dribbles. Na livewire with socket.
Probable Lineups
Fluminense:
Fabio – Ignacio, Silva, Fuentes – Xavier, Hercules, Bernal, Nonato, Rene – Arias, Cano
Chelsea:
Sanchez – Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella – Fernandez, Caicedo – Neto, Palmer, Nkunku – Pedro
Prediction – Fluminense 1-2 Chelsea (After Extra Time)
Fluminense don shock reach this stage already. Dem dey run on grit, prayer, and experience — and somehow, e dey work. But this Chelsea team get squad depth like hospital, and dem sabi how to suffer win.
Expect tough battle. Fluminense no go gree lie down flat, but Chelsea go drag the win after 90 minutes. Extra time go settle matter.
Final Yarn
Chelsea dey close to lifting another global cup. Fluminense dey try remind people say football no dey only Europe. One side dey fight for crown, the other dey play like their lives depend on it.
This one no be match to miss. Who go blink first?