Fluminense and Chelsea FC are set to face off in the FIFA Club World Cup semifinals after both teams secured hard-fought victories on Friday.
In Orlando, Fluminense defeated Saudi side Al Hilal 2-1 in a thrilling match. The Brazilian team took the lead in the 40th minute when Matheus Martinelli curled a brilliant shot into the top corner, assisted by Gabriel Fuentes. Al Hilal thought they had a chance to equalize just before halftime when they were awarded a penalty, but the decision was overturned by VAR.
Al Hilal managed to level the score in the 51st minute. Kalidou Koulibaly headed the ball into the danger zone, allowing Marcos Leonardo to net his fourth goal of the tournament. However, Fluminense regained the lead in the 70th minute when Hercules unleashed a powerful right-footed shot that found the back of the net.
The final minutes saw Al Hilal players appealing for penalties on several occasions, but the referee was unmoved, even booking Koulibaly for simulation. After the match, a frustrated Koulibaly expressed his confusion, saying, “We did everything to win. Fluminense played very well defensively. I don’t understand the referee’s decision. If you check VAR in the first half, you should check it in the second half.”
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, Chelsea secured a 2-1 victory over Palmeiras. The English side took the lead in the 16th minute through Cole Palmer, who scored his first goal of the tournament with a left-footed strike after a skillful dribble. Palmeiras equalized in the 53rd minute when Estevao scored with a tight-angle shot, showcasing his exceptional talent.
The decisive moment came in the 83rd minute when Chelsea’s Malo Gusto’s shot deflected off two Palmeiras defenders and found its way into the net. Chelsea’s win sets up a highly anticipated semifinal clash against Fluminense in East Rutherford on Tuesday.
Chelsea will face a challenge as they will be without forward Liam Delap and defender Levi Colwill, both suspended after receiving their second yellow cards of the tournament.
The stage is set for an exciting encounter between Fluminense and Chelsea as both teams aim for a place in the Club World Cup final.
