Cole Palmer ended an eight-game goal drought for club and country on Saturday morning
Chelsea booked their place in the semi-final of the Fifa Club World Cup with a win over Brazilian club Palmeiras – despite Estevao Willian scoring against the club he is about to join.
Cole Palmer slotted in a 16th-minute opener and, after Estevao had levelled early in the second half, Malo Gusto’s cross deflected off defender Giay Agustin and into his own goal to seal victory.
A lot of the headlines though will go to Brazil’s teenage sensation Estevao, who scored a wonderful leveller from a tight angle in the 53rd minute.
The 18-year-old Brazil international will now complete a move to Chelsea, in a deal that could be worth £52m.
Meanwhile, the Blues gave a debut to £55m signing Joao Pedro, who joined from Brighton just two days ago, but both Liam Delap and Levi Colwill picked up yellow cards and are suspended for the semi-final while captain Reece James picked up an injury in the warm up.
Chelsea will next face Fluminense in the semi-final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Tuesday.
Estevao Willian announced himself to his new employer in the best possible way: with a goal.
His sharpness in the box bought him half a yard on England international Levi Colwill and he then smashed his shot off the bar past goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
It was also a good way to bow out at Palmeiras and it will only serve to build further excitement before his Chelsea debut next season.
Forwards Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto were exciting throughout but Joao Pedro’s debut was also very bright and he was unlucky not to mark the occasion with a goal.
Delap struggled before coming off while Nicolas Jackson was interestingly nowhere to be seen despite returning from his two-match ban.
Chelsea will face another Brazilian club Fluminense in New Jersey at the MetLife Stadium on Tuesday while Palmeiras will switch attention to their domestic matters without Estevao having seen their campaign disrupted by this lucrative competition.
