João Pedro marked his first full start for Chelsea in spectacular fashion, netting both goals as the Blues cruised to a 2-0 victory over Fluminense to book a place in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup. The young Brazilian, who recently joined from Brighton, looked right at home in blue as he produced a confident and clinical display that lit up the semi-final clash.
It didn’t take long for Pedro to make his presence felt. In the opening half, he unleashed a curling effort from outside the box that left the Fluminense goalkeeper rooted. The second half brought more magic from the forward, as he broke through the Brazilian defence to calmly slot home his second of the evening, effectively sealing the win for Chelsea. Though the goals sparked celebration among the Chelsea faithful, Pedro chose not to celebrate out of respect for his former club.
Head coach Enzo Maresca was full of praise for his new recruit, applauding Pedro’s maturity, composure, and tactical awareness throughout the match. “João showed exactly why we brought him in,” the manager noted post-match. “He delivered when it mattered, and he played with the kind of calm and focus you don’t often see in young players on a big stage.”
Chelsea will now shift their attention to the Club World Cup final, where they await either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain. With João Pedro off to a dream start in his Chelsea career, fans are already excited about what he might offer in the long run — not just in this tournament, but in the challenges to come throughout the season.
