CHELSEA delivered a stunning performance to defeat UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, 3-0, in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday night (Monday in the Philippines) at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Cole Palmer was the star of the show, scoring twice and assisting another as Chelsea claimed the first-ever title in FIFA’s new 32-team Club World Cup format.
The victory capped a memorable season for the Blues, who also captured the UEFA Conference League and finished fourth in the Premier League.
PSG came into the match as heavy favorites, especially after a dominant 4-0 win over Real Madrid in the semifinals, but they were left reeling, trailing 3-0 by halftime.
Palmer broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, finishing off a move started by Malo Gusto, whose persistence on the right flank opened up space.
The 22-year-old Palmer doubled the lead just eight minutes later, curling in a low shot after being released down the right wing.
Before PSG could recover, Palmer again played a key role, setting up newly-signed Joao Pedro in the 43rd minute for a calm finish past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
A frustrated PSG side never looked capable of mounting a comeback. Their best chance of the half came just before the break, but Joao Neves sent a free header wide.
Things got worse when Neves was sent off in the 86th minute after a VAR review showed he had pulled Marc Cucurella’s hair off the ball.
The result was a massive blow for Luis Enrique’s side, who had hoped to add the Club World Cup to their Champions League crown and domestic double.
For Chelsea, the victory not only brings prestige but also a windfall of approximately $125 million in prize money — a valuable boost ahead of a shortened offseason./PN
