Chelsea stun Paris Saint-Germain to lift FIFA Club World Cup trophy

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New Delhi: Cole Palmer delivered a masterclass as Chelsea stunned Paris Saint-Germain with a commanding 3-0 win to clinch the first edition of the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Before the start of the match, PSG was expected to dominate after their Champions League triumph. However, Chelsea flipped the script with a ruthless first-half performance that left the European champions shell-shocked and trailing by three goals at the break.

Chelsea’s rising star opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a low drive into the bottom corner after Malo Gusto’s run caused chaos down PSG’s left. Just eight minutes later, Palmer doubled the lead with a cool finish from the edge of the box, showcasing the composure that has made him the face of Chelsea’s resurgence.

Before PSG could recover, Palmer turned provider, slicing through the PSG defence with a precise pass to Joao Pedro, who calmly chipped Gianluigi Donnarumma to make it 3-0 before half-time. Pedro has joined the Blues from Brighton during the tournament and continued his fine form with his third goal in as many games.

Palmer, featured on billboards in Times Square ahead of the final and lived up to the hype with a performance that confirmed his status as Chelsea’s poster boy in this new era under manager Enzo Maresca.

PSG’s rough night on and off the pitch

PSG entered the final confident after dismantling Real Madrid 4-0 in the semifinals but Luis Enrique’s side struggled to impose themselves against a well-drilled Chelsea unit. Despite chances for Joao Neves and Desire Doue in the first half PSG could not break through and the frustration only grew as the match slipped away.

In the second half, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele tested Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez but the Blues defence held firm. The night went from bad to worse for PSG when Joao Neves was shown a red card after a VAR review for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair off the ball with just minutes remaining.

Tensions boiled over after the final whistle as Enrique appeared to strike Chelsea’s Joao Pedro during a heated exchange with PSG players having to intervene to separate their coach from the scene. Enrique later claimed he was trying to diffuse a brewing altercation but it reflected PSG’s frustration on a night they lost control both on and off the pitch.

Historic moment for Chelsea

This triumph caps a remarkable season for Chelsea, who also lifted the UEFA Conference League and finished fourth in the Premier League. The Club World Cup title which comes with a $125 million prize is a testament to the progress made under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, proving their significant investments can deliver glory on the biggest stages.

The match was watched by 81,118 spectators including US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino and had a grand occasion feel with the Manhattan skyline in the backdrop and even featured the first-ever halftime show in a FIFA tournament, giving the final a Super Bowl-like atmosphere.

What’s next for Chelsea and PSG?

Chelsea’s players will now get a short break before resuming pre-season preparations with matches lined up against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan in August before their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on August 17.

For PSG, the defeat will sting but their focus will shift quickly as they prepare to face Tottenham Hotspur in the UEFA Super Cup on August 13 with Luis Enrique needing to lift his players after a disappointing end to an otherwise successful season.