Chelsea 2-0 Fluminense: Joao Pedro and the masterpiece 'falling yellow leaves'

Chelsea beat Fluminense 2-0 to reach the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, with Joao Pedro scoring twice, including the masterpiece "falling yellow leaves".

“Falling Leaves” by Joao Pedro

The first semi-final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup had just entered the 18th minute when Joao Pedro had space and time to adjust the ball right in front of the penalty area and unleashed a sharp right-footed shot.

The ball flew with a very tight trajectory and then curled into the top corner of the goal, far beyond the reach of goalkeeper Fabio - the oldest player in the tournament - 44 years old (45th birthday on September 30).

Joao Pedro scored a masterpiece of “falling leaves”. Photo: EFE

The difference between Chelsea and Fluminense was decided very early. This is the first time at the 2025 Club World Cup that the Brazilian team has kept three clean sheets, having been behind first.

Joao Pedro did not celebrate that moment, because of Fluminense - the team he loved and the place that changed his life.

The club’s academy taught him everything. There, Joao Pedro went through the positions of defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder and striker as he is today. Thanks to that, he became the model of the modern “number 9”.

Fluminense gave Joao Pedro his debut in 2019, paving the way for him to move to English football. First to Watford and then Brighton, and he officially signed for Chelsea on 2 July – in time for the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup , under FIFA’s transfer rules.

Also from the Fluminense environment, Joao Pedro learned the authentic “folha seca” shot (in Vietnam, it is often called the falling yellow leaf shot ) – a style of finishing the ball with Brazilian identity thanks to the legend Didi (he grew up at Fluminense, played for Botafogo, went to Real Madrid and won the C1 Cup in 1960).

Enzo Maresca recognized Joao Pedro's qualities and decided to bring him to Chelsea, the team with the youngest average age in the current top leagues.

Joao Pedro did not celebrate his double against his former club. Photo: EFE

Pedro was on holiday at the beach when Chelsea called him up. He immediately flew to the US with the team. No South American club could afford such a “timely” spending spree.

Joao Pedro only played a few minutes in the quarter-final against Palmeiras, but it was enough to make his mark with his technique and sharpness. With Liam Delap suspended, he started the semi-final and showed his true worth, and the potential to go far.

Chelsea Power

That opening goal summed up the tournament: the gap between the two footballing nations. Talent still flourished on the other side of the ocean, but was attracted and exploited by rich European football.

The 63.7 million euros that Chelsea paid for Joao Pedro was equal to two-thirds of the market value of the entire Fluminense squad (86.15 million euros, according to Transfermarkt).

With Joao Pedro at the helm, along with the elegance of Cole Palmer, the speed of Pedro Neto, and the midfield control of Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea tackled their opponents using the American football formula: pressure and physicality.

The pace, the cross into the box and the powerful finish past Fabio, which brought Joao Pedro's second goal, also exposed a clear reality of the difference between the two teams and the two football styles.

Chelsea is superior in every aspect. Photo: Imago

Once again Joao Pedro did not celebrate the goal and apologized to the crowd of spectators who he recognised wearing the Fluminense shirt and holding the tricolour flag.

With Fluminense, they were left with only subtle handling, the players' ability to hide the ball when possible, and the identity to play with dignity, which sometimes caused Chelsea difficulties.

Cucurella saved a goal on the line, and the referee – after being called by VAR and reviewing the incident – did not blow the whistle for Chalobah's handball, which under current football rules would normally be called.

The clock ticked inexorably, and Fluminense's confidence dwindled. Four Brazilian clubs advanced from the group stage, but were eliminated one by one by European representatives.

The economic order of football now punished Fluminense with two goals from Joao Pedro. Still, Flu left America with honor and pride.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/chelsea-2-0-fluminese-joao-pedro-va-tuyet-pham-club-world-cup-2419557.html