Joao Pedro had a night to remember as he scored twice to lead Chelsea to a 2-0 victory over Fluminense in the Club World Cup semi-final. The Brazilian forward, who recently joined Chelsea from Brighton, made his first start for the club and did not disappoint.
In a post-match interview with DAZN, Joao Pedro expressed his delight at his performance, calling it a “dream” come true. He credited his teammates for their support and emphasized the importance of staying focused for the final.
The young striker, who started his career at Fluminense before moving to Watford in 2020, refrained from celebrating his goals out of respect for his former club. He acknowledged the significance of the tournament for Fluminense but stressed that he is now a Chelsea player and must do his job.
Despite Fluminense’s efforts, they were unable to break through Chelsea’s defense, managing only 0.92 expected goals. Veteran defender Thiago Silva commended his team’s effort but acknowledged the difficulty of the match.
The game could have taken a different turn if a penalty had been awarded to Fluminense for a handball by Trevoh Chalobah, but after a VAR check, the decision was overturned. Silva believed it could have changed the outcome but accepted it as part of football.
As Chelsea now prepare for the final against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain, Joao Pedro is focused on continuing to improve and helping his team secure the title. The Brazilian forward is grateful for the warm welcome he has received at Chelsea and is eager to make a positive impact in the final showdown.
