Joao Pedro scored his second goal in the Premier LeagueCredit: AFP
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Trevoh Chalobah was too soft in the backlineCredit: AFP
Summer signing Pedro gave the hosts the lead with a header in the dying seconds of the first half.
The Blues‘ afternoon was made more comfortable as Enzo Fernandez converted from the spot in the 56th minute.
Fulham did have chances as defender Trevoh Chalobah seemed like a weak spot in the backline.
Here’s how SunSport reporter Jack Rosserrated the Chelsea players…
Robert Sanchez – 6
Sanchez will have been relieved that Josh King’s opening goal was ruled out, given he was made to look rather silly with the near post finish.
Other than that, however, the Spaniard had a very, very quiet afternoon with little to do after the first half scare.
Malo Gusto – 6
A couple of fine, flying challenges to stop Fulham on the counter while also supporting the winger in flying forwards whenever he can.
Given how good he can be, it feels like Reece James may take the right-back spot from Gusto soon but the Frenchman is putting forwards a good case at the moment.
A very difficult first half for the Blues defender.
Chalobah was lucky that VAR intervened in the build-up to Fulham’s disallowed goal after he was easily rolled by Rodrigo Muniz.
Christopher Nkunku seals transfer to AC Milan just two years after Chelsea move
He was also easily beaten by Josh King not too long after that. Picked up in the second half.
Tosin Adarabioyo – 6
A tough battle with former Fulham teammates Muniz and Raul Jimenez a times but led the Blues back four well.
Came close to opening the scoring but could not react to get an effort on target after a corner deflected his way off of Kenny Tete.
Marc Cucurella – 6
The Spaniard was fairly untroubled throughout, keeping the danger down his side to a minimum – especially impressive after Adama Traore was thrown on to try and get Fulham back in.
As always, a ball of energy looking to cause trouble going forwards, but little joy on that front this weekend.
Moises Caicedo – 8
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Moises Caicedo impressed in the midfieldCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Despite having trained just once this week since the West Ham game, Caicedo put in another stellar display.
Dominant against a hefty Fulham midfield, the Ecuador international held everything together for the Blues.
And even when the control slipped, Caicedo was there to save the day – making a superb last-ditch challenge to deny Timothy Castange what looked a certain goal minutes before the Blues opened the scoring.
Enzo Fernandez – 6
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Enzo Fernandez converted from the spotCredit: AFP
A bizarre afternoon for the Chelsea captain, who shushed his own fans and raged at the fitness coach at halftime.
Some sloppy play first half but stepped up and helped Chelsea gain a little more control after the break, before pulling rank and keeping his cool to convert the penalty and double the lead.
Estevao – 6
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Estevao put in another bright displayCredit: Getty
Another encouraging afternoon for the teenage winger.
Estevao showed his strength and power with a barge on Ryan Sessengnon in the first half, winning the ball before skipping away and past Calvin Bassey.
End product could do with some work still but plenty to be excited about.
Joao Pedro – 7
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Pedro opened the scoringCredit: Getty
Another week and another goal for Pedro.
The Brazilian found space well and confidently nodded home his second Premier League goal of the season to get things rolling.
Pedro even kept his mouth shut when Enzo Fernandez wanted to claim the penalty and open his account for the campaign, giving his captain a hug for support before the spot kick.
Pedro Neto – 5
A lot of hard work for little reward.
With Alejandro Garnacho watching on and Jamie Gittens already providing competition from the bench – Neto will have to show more if he is to keep his place in the side.
Liam Delap – n/a
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Liam Delap went off injuredCredit: Getty
The striker suffered a huge blow as he went off injured early in the first half.
Substitutes
Tyrique George (Delap, 13′) – 5
Thrown in much earlier than expected after Delap’s early injury and asked to lead the line – not his usual position.
It was a surprise George was even turned to given talks progressing over a move to Roma.
his was not a performance that will add any more to the transfer fee as George struggled to make an impact.
Jamie Gittens (Estevao, 67′) – 6
Offered precious little from the bench, although Chelsea were more seeing out the game rather than pushing desperately for a third goal once Gittens was sent on.
CHELSEA showed that pre-season might be merely a formality as they rolled over AC Milan by four goals to one, lifting the coveted VisitMalta Weekender trophy for the second time in three days.
The Blues have made two supposedly decent teams look like amateurs, in what were hardly tough tests for Enzo Maresca’s young team before playing Crystal Palace in the opening game of their season.
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Joao Pedro was on target again to cement his place in the Chelsea XICredit: Shutterstock Editorial
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But he has Liam Delap breathing down his neck after a brace against AC MilanCredit: AFP
New signing Jamie Gittens announced himself to the world against AC Milan for Borussia Dortmund two seasons ago, who may well be his favourite opponents as he gave their defence, Yunus Musah in particular, a torrid time today.
The electric Englishman was perhaps overshadowed by Estevao against Bayer Leverkusen, but put in a performance today that showed he could nutmeg a mermaid in a telephone box if ever put to the test.
It was his direct running and trickery that won the free-kick for Chelsea to open the scoring through an Andrei Coubis own goal on the stroke of the 5th minute, after a calamitous mix-up between the Italian and Mike Maignan in the Milan goal.
Moments later and Joao Pedro and Pedro Neto combined for the Brazilian to head home his fifth goal in five games.
A driving run from Neto down the right was followed by an inch perfect cross, met by a header that could’ve ripped a hole in the net to add Chelsea’s second in as many minutes.
He’s proving exceptional value for his £60m fee.
The Blues continued to dominate until the half-time whistle, helped out on the way by Milan defender Andrei Coubis’ afternoon going from bad to worse with a straight red card for bringing down Joao Pedro who was through on goal.
The Italian booted a water bottle as he stormed down the tunnel, and rightly so, you may not see a worse 17 minutes at Stamford Bridge this season than that.
Cole Palmer went close twice from first-half free-kicks, one that left the post rattling and another which left former Chelsea target Mike Maignan being ridiculed as a ‘s*** Robert Sanchez’.
The Blues’ number ten almost went on to recreate Gus Poyet’s famous 1999 ‘scissor volley’ minutes later, but his effort just sailed over the bar.
Unsurprisingly, it was Rafael Leao who lead the AC Milan charge.
He was denied by Robert Sanchez, Tosin and Reece James before finally beating the Spanish stopper, only to see the offside flag raised on the near side.
Half-time brought the introduction of six-time Champions League winner, Ballon D’or winner and Swansea part-owner Luka Modric into the middle for Milan.
The Croatian was left chasing the shadows of Chelsea’s young and energetic midfield throughout the second half, his only highlight being a tame shot claimed by Robert Sanchez.
After the disastrous news that future captain Levi Colwill required surgery on an ACL injury, Enzo Maresca will have winced as Trevoh Chalobah was forced off with a knock in the 56th minute and replaced by Josh Acheampong,
Milan grew into the game in the second half, and simply had to score when Yunus Musah rolled the ball past Robert Sanchez before Reece James arrived on the scene to put that fire out.
Expectedly, a flurry of Chelsea changes came with 30 minutes to go, and unsurprisingly it was teenage prodigy Estevao replacing Cole Palmer that drew the biggest cheer at Stamford Bridge.
It took the 18-year-old exactly five minutes to be involved in another Chelsea goal, as he was brought down inside the box, allowing Delap to rifle a penalty into the bottom left corner.
The rest of his touches brought an expectant gasp out of everyone in the stadium, as he danced and dazzled with fancy footwork in front of the Matthew Harding stand.
AC Milan got a consolation goal, courtesy of Youssaf Fofana who smashed the ball past Robert Sanchez at the near post with 20 minutes to go, assisted by Alexis Saelemaekers.
Just when fans thought that would be game, set, and match, Chelsea added a fourth and final goal.
Andrey Santos’ perfectly weighted ball into the path of Liam Delap allowed the English striker to make it a brace with a fine finish into the bottom left corner.
CHELSEA hardly needed to play like world-beaters to see off lacklustre Leverkusen.
But there was plenty for the Blues to feel positive about from their first game as world champions.
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Estevao scored his first Stamford Bridge goalCredit: Alamy
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The Brazilian tucked home after 18 minutesCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
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It was a game largely devoid of quality despite the Blues dominanceCredit: Reuters
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Joao Pedro then brought more Brazilian brilliance as he added a second goalCredit: Reuters
Estevao’s goal and all-round first-half performance on his debut was the undoubted highlight, before Club World Cup hero Joao Pedro made it two late on.
And although boss Enzo Maresca regularly showed frustration with his team, this was a decent showing from a group of players with less than a week of training under their belt.
Maresca gave 10 outfield substitutes a run out without losing control of a game that at times had a bit more needle than he would have liked.
The way Cole Palmer linked up with Estevao will have pleased the Chelsea head coach.
The challenge which former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah put in on Palmer will have had him wincing.
Especially after losing defender Levi Colwill to ACL surgery after a knock picked up in the very first training session since the CWC victory.
Palmer was incensed, and his team-mates backed him up in a brief outbreak of handbags.
Yet it was Chelsea who looked the fresher team.
Former Bundesliga champions Leverkusen had been working together for a full pre-season under new boss Erik ten Hag.
But they felt like one of Ten Hag’s old Manchester United teams: flat and toothless up front, having lost playmaker Florian Wirtz and wing-back Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool.
Blues goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen made only a couple of routine saves and the visitors were unable to capitalise on the odd defensive error.
Otherwise it was all Chelsea.
Marc Cucurella and Estevao had shots blocked before the Brazilian started and finished the key move of the match.
After retrieving the ball near the halfway line, the right winger Cucurella, whose pass inside fell for Palmer.
The No 10s lob came back off the bar but Estevao volleyed it home.
Chelsea’s new No 9, Liam Delap, had two decent sights of goal but was denied each time by former Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
Delap might have done better, particularly with the first opportunity from Cucurella’s cross.
Estevao saw a shot blocked by Piero Hincapie’s head just before the break.
Palmer went off at half time, presumably as a precaution rather than because of any lasting damage from Quansah’s foul.
Estevao took his place in the No 10 position, leaving Pedro Neto to “follow that” on the right wing.
The young Brazilian had been less impressive in the second half yet had a chance to make the night even more special.
But he pulled a good chance wide before being replaced with 15 minutes to go to a loud ovation from the crowd.
Neto forced a decent save from Flekken and Chelsea were on the verge of settling for a scoreline that did not reflect their superiority.
But Joao Pedro put some extra shine on a night lit up by his fellow Brazilian Estevao with a last-gasp second.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Cole Palmer scored twice and fed João Pedro for a goal as Chelsea overwhelmed Paris Saint-Germain in the first half and beat the European champions 3-0 on Sunday in the final of the first expanded FIFA Club World Cup.
Palmer had almost identical left-footed goals from just inside the penalty area in the 22nd and 30th minutes, then sent a through pass that enabled João Pedro to chip goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 43d for his third goal in two starts with the Blues.
A 23-year-old who joined Chelsea from Manchester City two years ago, Palmer scored 18 goals this season.
PSG finished a man short after João Neves was given a red card in the 84th minute for pulling down Marc Cucurella by his hair. After a testy final few minutes, the teams needed to be separated as PSG coach Luis Enrique and Donnarumma pushed João Pedro near the center circle.
A heavy favorite who had outscored opponents 16-1, PSG had been looking to complete a quadruple after winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and its first Champions League title.
Before a tournament-high crowd of 81,188 at MetLife Stadium that included U.S. President Donald Trump, Chelsea showed the energy of a fourth day of rest after its semifinal, one more than PSG.
Chelsea players celebrate after winning the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday.
(Adam Hunger / Associated Press)
Chelsea had finished fourth in the Premier League and won the third-tier UEFA Conference League. The Blues took the world title for the second time after 2021, when it was an seven-team event. The Blues earned $128,435,000 to $153,815,000 in prize money, the amount depending on a participation fee FIFA has not disclosed.
PSG had not lost by three goals since a 4-1 Champions League defeat at Newcastle in October 2023.
