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The Fluminense vs Chelsea matchup on Tuesday saw Joao Pedro’s brace steer The Blues to the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) 2026 finals.
Pedro converted right-footed goals – one each in the first and second halves – as The Blues overcame hot conditions to reach the championship round with the 2-0 win.
FLUMINENSE VS CHELSEA SEES PEDRO APOLOGIZE FOR OUSTING BOYHOOD CLUB
The Fluminense vs Chelsea match sees Pedro apologize to his boyhood club after his two goals pulled The Blues to the final.
What’s more, the 23-year-old Brazilian forward refused to be drawn in a wild celebration that would antagonize his former squad.
Pedro first struck off a Pedro Neto play in the 18th minute before he came back with his second goal in the 56th minute. off an Enzo Fernandez cross.
He only cracked a brief smile as his teammates celebrated his second goal that ensured victory.
“They (Fluminense) gave everything to me. They showed me to the world. If I’m here, it’s because they believed in me,” Pedro said afterwards.
“I’m very grateful but this is football – I have to be professional. I feel sorry for them, but I have to do my job,” he added.
MARESCA LAUDS PEDRO’S HEROICS, CALLS HIM A ‘VERY, VERY GOOD PLAYER’
Enzo Maresca lauded Pedro’s heroics, as he called his forward a “very, very good player.”
What’s more, the 45-year-old Chelsea coach entrusted Pedro the reins by starting him at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The Italian manager felt the Brazilian’s playing style can counter a Fluminense side that “defends deep.”
“We know that Joao is a very, very good player against (a) team that defends deep, because he has (the) quality to decide (games) like today” Maresca said.
“We know that we have players that are able to do that and we know we have to help them get into situations where they can do that and we know Joao can do this,” he added.
PSG-REAL MADRID WINNER AWAITS CHELSEA IN FINAL
The winner of the other semifinal between Paris Saint Germain (PSG) against Real Madrid awaits Chelsea in the final.
That match would mean a lot for Pedro, who started out at the Fluminense academy when he was 10 before he moved to Watford at 18.
He would later take his talents to Brighton at 21 until he transferred to Chelsea on a £60-million transfer deal only six days ago.
Yet, Fluminense coach Renato Gaucho admitted losing great Brazilian players like Pedro to European leagues is a reality they have to accept.
“It doesn’t make sense for Brazil to try to compete with European clubs in terms of finances,” the Brazilian club’s manager said.
“Brazilian clubs trade players and sell them to Europe so they can survive and that’s been true even since I was a player,” he added.
Visit our FIFA World Cup 2026 website for more football news and other updates.
