Chelsea FC have booked their place in the next round of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup following a decisive 3-0 victory over Tunisian champions, Esperance de Tunis, at the Lincoln Financial Field Stadium in Philadelphia, United States.
The game, watched by a crowd of 32,967 spectators, was dominated by the Premier League side, who took control of the match with two quick goals just before halftime.
Defender Tosin Adarabioyo opened the scoring in the third minute of first-half stoppage time, nodding in a corner to give Chelsea the lead after a relatively balanced first 45 minutes. That breakthrough was quickly followed by a second goal as Liam Delap, Chelsea’s new forward signing, capitalised on a defensive lapse to slot home seconds before the halftime whistle.
The Blues resumed the second half with purpose, continuing to dominate possession and apply pressure on the Tunisian side’s backline.
In the 58th minute, Christopher Nkunku had a golden opportunity to extend the lead after a fluid team move, but his effort narrowly missed the target. Five minutes later, Noni Madueke came close to adding a third, only for his shot to trickle across the goal line before being cleared.
Chelsea thought they had won a penalty in the 75th minute when Madueke was brought down in the box. However, after a review by the Video Assistant Referee, the referee overturned his initial decision, ruling there was no foul.
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Despite the setback, Chelsea remained in control and continued to push for a third goal. Their persistence paid off deep into added time. In the seventh minute of stoppage time, academy graduate Tyrique George sealed the win with a clinical finish following a sweeping counterattack, sending the Chelsea fans into celebration.
The win sees Chelsea progress to the next stage of the Club World Cup, where they will meet stronger opposition as the tournament intensifies.
Head coach Enzo Maresca, overseeing his first major international outing with Chelsea, praised his team’s composure and execution, particularly in capitalising on late first-half chances.
“This was a disciplined performance,” Maresca said in the post-match briefing. “We showed quality and patience, and I’m pleased with the contributions from both our experienced players and young talents like George.”
The loss sends Esperance out of the tournament, ending the North African club’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
With the victory, Chelsea extend their unbeaten run across all competitions and will carry momentum into the next Club World Cup clash scheduled for later in the week.
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