Chelsea's hopes of advancing in the 2025 Club World Cup took a significant blow on Friday as they surrendered a one-goal lead to lose 3-1 against Brazilian side Flamengo in Philadelphia.
The Blues, who had started their campaign positively with a 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC, looked set to secure their place in the knockout stages when Pedro Neto put them ahead in the first half with a clinical finish after breaking clear of the Flamengo defense.
Second Half Collapse
However, the match dramatically shifted after the interval. Bruno Henrique equalized for the Brazilian side, before Danilo's sharp finish gave Flamengo the lead, stunning the Premier League outfit.
Chelsea's troubles deepened when substitute Nicolas Jackson, who had only just replaced Liam Delap, was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge. The dismissal left the Blues vulnerable, and Flamengo capitalized with Wallace Yan adding a third goal to complete Chelsea's misery.
Tournament Implications
This defeat complicates Chelsea's path in the tournament, as they must now regroup quickly to maintain their hopes of progressing beyond the group stage. The loss of Jackson to suspension will further challenge manager Enzo Maresca's squad options for their remaining fixtures.
The 2025 Club World Cup has already produced several notable results, including Inter Miami's victory over FC Porto thanks to a Lionel Messi winner, while Real Madrid failed to defeat Al Hilal in their opening match.
Chelsea will need to regroup quickly as they look to salvage their campaign in the expanded Club World Cup format, which features teams from across global football confederations competing for the prestigious title.
Stay updated with the latest sports news by following BenriNews on our social media platforms:
