Chelsea thrash Esperance Tunis in a stunning 3-0 win. This stunning victory sent them through to the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup. That game at the Estadio Municipal in Charlotte was a culmination of their operating虐cy. It was a momentous occasion for Liam Delap too, with the City youngster netting his first goal for the club. With this win, Chelsea will face Benfica in the next round, a team that unexpectedly topped Group C ahead of Bayern Munich.
The Blues came into this game flying high and full of momentum. They understood that a draw would guarantee their runners-up spot behind Flamengo — last year’s runners-up — in their group. Chelsea’s players were hell bent on making sure that wasn’t the case, and remind the tournament who their boss was.
Key Plays and Standout Performances
The scoring was opened by Tosin Adarabioyo as the defender headed home an Aaron Mooy corner kick. The chance came from a free-kick which was taken by Enzo Fernandez whose inswinging delivery found Adarabioyo clearly and criminally unmarked at the far post to power home. This early lead changed the course of the match and gave players from Chelsea immense confidence on the pitch.
“It was important to bounce back and win.” – Enzo Maresca
Chelsea were not done pressing, and Fernandez was instrumental as usual for the entire match. He went on to set up Liam Delap’s goal with a brilliant pass that confirmed his elite vision and passing skills. Delap previously turned impressively to evade one defender. He backheeled past one and then, with his next touch, curled the ball into the net, scoring his first goal for Chelsea in remarkable fashion.
“Obviously it is a really happy feeling and hopefully it is the first of many,” – Liam Delap
The team’s third goal was scored by Tyrique George, who capitalized on Chelsea’s continued dominance in front of goal. The victory was a testament to the collective effort of Chelsea’s players, including those who had been waiting for their opportunity on the pitch.
VAR Drama and Tactical Decisions
In a cruel turn of events on the day, Chelsea had a penalty awarded for handball overturned by VAR during the match. This injury provided an unexpected element of drama to what was largely a smooth performance for the Blues. Even after this disappointment, Chelsea didn’t lose their focus and determination and continued fighting for their place in the round of 32.
After the match, Maresca was understandably delighted about what he had just witnessed. He praised, too, those who haven’t been playing regularly. He said following up with a big performance was critical after facing early season adversity.
“We are happy for all the players, especially for the ones who have gone a long time without minutes.” – Enzo Maresca
Delap then went on to explain some of the communication he had with Fernandez throughout the match, discussing how their partnership opened up numerous goal scoring opportunities.
“I spoke to Enzo [Fernandez] and he told me when he gets the ball to just run.” – Liam Delap
Looking Ahead: A Clash with Benfica
With this victory, Chelsea now turns its attention to their next challenge: facing Benfica. Join us at the next match, this Saturday in Charlotte! A big surprise win for Benfica over Bayern Munich in Group C makes this collision all the more spicy.
After having an AC Milan quality performance against Esperance Tunis, Chelsea’s players will be inspired to keep their momentum going and have that same level of quality. The team hunkers down in preparation for Round 2! They are motivated to go as deep as they can in the Club World Cup.
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