CHELSEA reached the final of the Club World Cup as two goals from new signing Joao Pedro helped sink Brazilian side Fluminense.
The 23-year-old, making his full debut against his boyhood club, curled home his first goal in the 18th minute after former Blues defender Thiago Silva failed to clear Pedro Neto’s cross.
His second, a powerful shot which went in off the bar in the 56th minute, sealed victory.
The win ensures Chelsea add £22m to the £60m already earned at the competition, with Joao Pedro quickly helping to repay some of the £55m paid to sign him from Brighton last week.
Christopher Nkunku had multiple chances to add to the scoreline while at the other end, Marc Cucurella cleared Hercules shot off the line and substitute Everaldo had a shot saved.
The Rio-based club may be aggrieved to have seen referee Francois Letexier overturn his own decision to give a first-half penalty for a handball by Trevoh Chalobah after a VAR intervention.
However, Chelsea always looked likely to progress once they opened the scoring in a mostly-full MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which sweltered in 35C heat.
The only blot on Chelsea’s night was a potential injury to midfielder Moises Caicedo, who appeared to injure his ankle in the 93rd minute and walked off the pitch before the match finished.
The Blues will face either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s final at the same venue (20:00 BST).
