Chelsea secured their place in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final after a dramatic 2-1 win over Palmeiras — a match that showcased the remarkable talent of Estevao Willian, who is on the verge of joining the Blues.
Cole Palmer gave Chelsea an early advantage with a composed finish in the 16th minute. But Palmeiras hit back early in the second half through a moment of brilliance from Estevao, who fired in an equaliser from a seemingly impossible angle in the 53rd minute.
While Estevao’s goal may have briefly threatened Chelsea’s progress, Malo Gusto’s cross — deflected into his own net by Palmeiras defender Giay Agustin — ultimately sealed the win for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Plenty of the post-match spotlight has rightly fallen on Estevao. The 18-year-old Brazilian sensation, set to join Chelsea in a deal worth up to £52 million, offered Blues fans a tantalising preview of what’s to come with his superb finish.
Chelsea had beaten off competition from European heavyweights including Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester City to land Estevao’s signature last summer. He remained on loan at Palmeiras to continue his development, and Saturday’s quarter-final turned out to be a fitting final showcase before his move to London.
Meanwhile, Chelsea handed a debut to their new £55 million signing Joao Pedro, who arrived from Brighton just two days earlier. There were some frustrations too: Liam Delap and Levi Colwill both picked up bookings and will now be suspended for the semi-final, while captain Reece James was forced out of the warm-up with an injury.
Chelsea’s focus now shifts to Tuesday’s semi-final against Fluminense at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — with Estevao, soon to be theirs, fresh in everyone’s minds after announcing himself in spectacular fashion.
