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Chelsea pulled off a stunning upset in the Club World Cup final on Sunday, defeating European champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 3-0 at MetLife Stadium.
Star performance came from Cole Palmer, who scored two goals and assisted another, with US President Donald Trump in attendance as Chelsea lifted the trophy.
PSG, widely favoured after their Champions League triumph and a dominant 4-0 semi-final win over Real Madrid, found themselves unexpectedly down 3-0 by halftime.
Palmer initiated the scoring midway through the first half and doubled Chelsea’s lead on the half-hour mark.
He then exploited passive defending to set up João Pedro for the third goal in the 43rd minute.
PSG’s frustrating day was capped when João Neves received a red card late in the game after a VAR review for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair.
Coach Maresca Hails Palmer; Post-Match Tensions Erupt
Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca expressed immense pride in his team’s victory against what he considered “the best team in the world,” specifically praising Palmer: “These are the games where we expect Cole to appear because it is a big game, a big moment, and once again he showed how good he is.”
However, tensions flared at the final whistle, with players confronting each other on the pitch.
PSG coach Luis Enrique was seen raising his arm to Joao Pedro’s neck, later explaining he was merely trying to separate the players during the pushing and shoving.
The 3-0 scoreline was a surprise for many, as Chelsea completed a long but memorable season. They are the first winners of the expanded 32-team Club World Cup, adding this title to their UEFA Conference League victory and a fourth-place finish in the Premier League.
The $125 million prize money will likely make their curtailed summer break worthwhile.
For PSG, despite the similar financial rewards, the loss is a significant disappointment, particularly after their successful Champions League and French domestic double.
Luis Enrique’s team now has a month to recover before the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur.
Match Details and Trump’s Presence
The final, held at the MetLife Stadium with the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop, drew a crowd of 81,118, including Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
The match saw PSG’s defence, which had conceded only one goal in their previous eight games, completely dismantled by Chelsea.
Palmer’s opening goal in the 22nd minute came after Malo Gusto’s shot was blocked, allowing Palmer to finish into the bottom-left corner.
Palmer, who had been a prominent face on Chelsea’s US billboards, further solidified his star status by scoring again on the half-hour mark with a low shot into the same corner.
Joao Pedro, a recent signing from Brighton, then sealed the 3-0 lead just before halftime, clipping a shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma after receiving a pass from Palmer.
PSG never mounted a serious comeback, despite a close header from substitute Neves in first-half stoppage time, concluding a thoroughly disappointing day for the French side.
