New signing Joao Pedro scored twice on his first start as Chelsea eased to a 2-0 win over Fluminense on Tuesday to seal a spot in the final of the Club World Cup.

The Brazilian striker opened the scoring in lethal fashion in the 18th minute of the last-four clash at the MetLife Stadium and struck again shortly before the hour mark as Chelsea set up a showdown with either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain in the final on Sunday.

Signed from Brighton and Hove Albion just last week for a reported £60 million ($79 million), the 23-year-old cut short an off-season holiday and made his debut off the bench in the quarter-final win over Palmeiras.

He was then given his first Chelsea start up front here in place of the suspended Liam Delap.

Joao Pedro refused to celebrate after either goal against the club with whom he started his career and made 36 top-team appearances before moving to England with Watford in 2020.

The result ends Fluminense’s impressive run at the tournament after the 2023 Copa Libertadores winners had held Borussia Dortmund in the group stage, beaten Inter Milan in the last 16 and knocked out Manchester City’s conquerors Al-Hilal in the quarter-finals.

With their exit go the prospects of a South American winner of the first 32-team edition of the Club World Cup, with Chelsea claiming back-to-back victories against Brazilian opposition to reach the final.

As always seemed most likely, the trophy will be claimed by one of Europe’s superpowers, with the final now guaranteed to be between two of the last five winners of the UEFA Champions League.

Fluminense coach Renato Portaluppi had described his team as the “ugly duckling” of the tournament due to the enormous difference between their budget and those of the other three sides left in the United States.

This game ultimately proved to be a step too far for their team, captained by 40-year-old former Chelsea centre-back Thiago Silva.

Caicedo back

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca was without the suspended Levi Colwill and Delap but midfield lynchpin Moises Caicedo returned after sitting out the win over Palmeiras in Philadelphia due to a ban.

The Premier League side were simply too strong for their opponents in a game watched by 70,556 fans on a hot afternoon just outside New York City.

They went ahead thanks to a wonderful strike by their new forward, who controlled the ball on the edge of the box after Silva had cleared a Pedro Neto cross.

Joao Pedro took a touch and curled a shot beyond veteran goalkeeper Fabio into the far corner, before holding up his hands apologetically towards the Fluminense fans massed behind the goal.

The team from Rio de Janeiro were an intermittent threat, and Hercules — match-winner against Al-Hilal in the last eight — almost equalised in the 25th minute.

He played a one-two with German Cano and lifted the ball over goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, but Marc Cucurella got back to clear off the line.

Fluminense were then awarded a penalty 10 minutes before the interval when a set-piece delivery by Rene struck the arm of Trevoh Chalobah in the box.

However, French referee Francois Letexier overturned the decision following a VAR check.

Chelsea got their second on 56 minutes, just after Fluminense had sacrificed one of their three centre-backs to send on an extra attacker.

Enzo Fernandez released Joao Pedro on the break, and the forward who scored 10 goals in the Premier League last season for Brighton produced another clinical finish in off the bar.

There were chances for Chelsea to score further goals after that, but the new boy’s double strike sufficed.

AFP

The European football governing body (UEFA) have confirmed the new Champions League format to be introduced as of 2025/26 season.

The league stage will have more weight.

The first and second-place teams will play the second leg of the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals at their home stadium.

Another important change is that if a top-seeded team is eliminated in the round of 16 (for example), the team that eliminates it inherits its position in the table.

A practical example from the last edition of the Champions League: PSG (15th) eliminated Liverpool (1st) in the round of 16. PSG would gain the benefit of Liverpool’s first place in the league stage and would play the second leg of the quarter-finals and semi-finals at home.

Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen has reportedly agreed to a permanent transfer to Turkish giants Galatasaray, following an impressive one-year loan stint with the Istanbul club.

Osimhen initially joined Galatasaray on loan from Napoli in September 2024, with both clubs agreeing to terms through the end of the 2024–25 season.

During his loan, Osimhen scored 35 goals in 39 official matches—26 in the Süper Lig, where he finished as top scorer.

It is understood that Osimhen has “said YES” to making the move permanent.

Turkish broadcaster and Nigerian journalist Buchi Laba confirmed the forward’s intentions on X.

“Exclusive: Victor James Osimhen says YES to Galatasaray & wants to continue with the Turkish Team.”

“Napoli for weeks have been pleading with Victor Osimhen to stay.

Osimhen has made it very very clear that he wants to leave.

Galatasaray and Napoli are currently in negotiations for the payment of his Release clause.”

Osimhen has a €130 million release clause but that sum is expected to be lowered.

Osimhen, 25, joined Napoli in 2020 scoring 76 goals in 133 appearances and leading the club to its first league title in over three decades in 2023.