Chelsea were crowned FIFA Club World Cup champions on Sunday night after a dominant 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the MetLife Stadium, thanks to a first-half masterclass from Cole Palmer.
The Blues secured their second Club World Cup title in emphatic fashion, tearing apart the European and French champions with a performance full of pace, precision, and clinical finishing.
Palmer opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, capitalising on a costly error from PSG fullback Nuno Mendes. After Malo Gusto’s shot was blocked, Palmer pounced on the rebound and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
The 22-year-old doubled Chelsea’s lead ten minutes later with a moment of brilliance. He received a perfectly timed through ball from Levi Colwill, cut inside, faked a pass to throw off the defender, and fired a low shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma to make it 2-0.
Palmer continued to dictate play and turned provider just before halftime. Bursting down the right flank, he played in Joao Pedro, who beat the offside trap and chipped his finish expertly over Donnarumma for Chelsea’s third.
PSG, who struggled to match Chelsea’s intensity and cohesion, saw their night go from bad to worse when midfielder Joao Neves was sent off in the 83rd minute for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair during a heated moment.
The match, played before a capacity crowd in New Jersey, also featured a vibrant halftime performance from Nigerian star Tems, who performed her hit single Love Me Jeje, drawing praise from fans across the globe and highlighting Africa’s growing influence on the world stage.
Chelsea’s victory marks a triumphant end to their international campaign and underlines the success of manager Enzo Maresca’s new tactical approach. With Palmer emerging as a key figure, the future looks bright for the London club.
PSG, meanwhile, will head back to France searching for answers after a night that exposed their defensive frailties and discipline issues.
Final Score: Chelsea 3 – 0 Paris Saint-Germain Goals: Palmer (22’, 32’), Joao Pedro (40’) Red Card: Joao Neves (PSG, 83’)
