Midfielder dario essugo

FIFA Club World Cup: Chelsea FC beat Esperance 3-0 at Lincoln Financial Field on Wednesday (IST) to qualify for the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

With CR Flamengo having already won Group D to advance, the Blues next face Group C winners SL Benfica in Charlotte on 28 June, after the Portuguese side secured top spot with a 1-0 victory against FC Bayern Munchen.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca made eight changes the team that had lost 3-1 to Flamengo. With the Londoners only needing a draw to go through and Espérance sitting back and looking to counter, the circumstances made for an uneventful first half until Chelsea struck twice before half-time.