Chelsea, Fluminense secure spots in Club World Cup semifinals

English club Chelsea and Brazilian team Fluminense have advanced to the semifinals of the FIFA Club World Cup. Both quarterfinal matches were thrilling, with Fluminense beating Saudi club Al Hilal 2-1, and Chelsea edging out another Brazilian team, Palmeiras, by the same score.

In the Chelsea-Palmeiras match, Chelsea dominated the first half. Young midfielder Cole Palmer scored in the 16th minute to give his team the lead. However, Palmeiras equalized in the second half when 18-year-old Estevão Williams scored a great left-footed goal in the 53rd minute. This was his first goal, and it came against the club he is soon joining — Chelsea.

But in the 83rd minute, Palmeiras goalkeeper Weverton made a mistake. Chelsea’s Luis Gustavo took a low shot that deflected slightly off a defender’s foot and slipped past Weverton, giving Chelsea a 2-1 win.

In the other match against Al Hilal, Fluminense took the lead in the first half with a goal from Matheus Martinelli. Al Hilal’s Marcos Leonardo equalized in the second half, but substitute Hércules scored in the 70th minute to secure Fluminense’s victory.

As a result, Chelsea and Fluminense will face each other in the semifinals. Among the four Brazilian teams in the tournament, only Fluminense remains.