Chelsea Edge Palmeiras 2-1 on Own Goal, Set Up Semifinal Clash with Fluminense

Chelsea advanced to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup semifinals in dramatic fashion, defeating Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras 2-1 on a late own goal that left fans stunned and pundits divided. The quarterfinal clash, played on Friday, July 4, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, ended with a twist no one saw coming — and one that will echo far beyond the final whistle.

A First-Half Masterclass, Then a Second-Half Collapse

Chelsea came out firing. Cole Palmer opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a crisp left-footed finish from the center of the box, assisted by Trevoh Chalobah. The goal was textbook: calm, precise, and clinically executed. For 45 minutes, the Blues looked like the better team — controlling possession, forcing saves from Weverton, and threatening on every counter. Enzo Fernández rattled the crossbar with a long-range effort. Liam Chalobah missed a golden chance from six yards. Palmeiras, meanwhile, barely registered a shot on target until the 42nd minute, when Vanderlan’s header was easily saved.

But here’s the thing — football doesn’t reward dominance alone. It rewards composure under pressure. And in the second half, that’s exactly what Palmeiras had — and Chelsea didn’t.

Palmeiras Rises, and So Does Estêvão Willian

The second half was a different game. Palmeiras, led by captain Gustavo Gómez, switched on like a team possessed. They pressed higher, moved quicker, and exploited the gaps Chelsea left behind. In the 53rd minute, 18-year-old sensation Estêvão Willian — who, in a twist no scriptwriter would dare invent, is set to join Chelsea this summer — latched onto a cross from Richard Ríos and fired a low, angled shot into the far corner. The goal was pure instinct, pure talent. The stadium erupted. The Blues looked rattled.

For the next 30 minutes, Palmeiras controlled the tempo. Hudson River Blue captured it best: “Palmeiras controlled the run of play after the start of the second half, running circles around a Chelsea that struggled to keep pace.” The Brazilian side had three clear chances to go ahead. A cross in the 37th minute clipped the post. A header in the 68th narrowly missed. They weren’t just competing — they were dominating.

The Own Goal That Changed Everything

Then came the 83rd minute. Malo Gusto sent in a cross — not a beauty, not a curler, not even a particularly dangerous one. It was a hopeful, looping ball into the box. And then, in a moment of sheer misfortune, Agustín Giay, Palmeiras’ young defender, stretched to clear it — and instead, the ball deflected off his thigh and looped over Weverton’s outstretched hand.

It wasn’t a goal. It was a mistake. But in football, mistakes are often the difference between glory and heartbreak.

Chelsea’s official match report admitted it: “The second 45 minutes lacked the control and composure we had shown in the first half... and in the end, a moment of fortune helped us score the crucial second goal.”

And then, in stoppage time, Noni Madueke — who’d come on for Christopher Nkunku in the 83rd — unleashed a shot that crashed off the post. The ball rolled along the line. The crowd held its breath. The referee blew for full time. Chelsea held on.

The Irony of Estêvão Willian

The most surreal layer to this match? Estêvão Willian — the boy who scored Palmeiras’ equalizer — will join Chelsea’s squad next season. He’s already under contract. He’s already been cleared for transfer. He’ll be training with the very team he just helped defeat on a fluke goal. There’s poetry in that. Or maybe just cruel irony.

“It’s like watching your future teammate break your heart,” one Chelsea fan tweeted. “And then you have to sign him next week.”

What’s Next? A Clash of Legends

Chelsea now face Fluminense Football Club in the semifinal on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at 3:00 PM Eastern Time. The venue remains unconfirmed, but the stakes couldn’t be higher. Fluminense’s squad includes Thiago Silva — the former Chelsea captain and defensive icon who helped the Blues win the Champions League in 2012.

Thiago Silva, now 40, will be facing the club he once led. He’s not just playing for Fluminense — he’s playing for legacy. And Chelsea? They’re playing for survival.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup is the first 32-team edition of the tournament, a radical expansion that’s brought more teams, more drama, and more unpredictability than ever before. This match was a microcosm of it all: youth vs. experience, chaos vs. control, fortune vs. fate.

Key Facts

Chelsea won 2-1 after an 83rd-minute own goal by Agustín Giay
Cole Palmer opened the scoring in the 16th minute; Estêvão Willian equalized in the 53rd
Estêvão Willian will join Chelsea as a free agent after the tournament
Fluminense, featuring Thiago Silva, await Chelsea in the semifinal on July 8
The match was played at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, under the expanded 32-team Club World Cup format

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the own goal happen, and was it controversial?

The own goal occurred when Malo Gusto’s cross from the left flank took a deflection off Palmeiras defender Agustín Giay’s thigh as he attempted to clear. The ball looped over goalkeeper Weverton and into the net. While not a clear foul, many analysts questioned whether Giay had enough time to react — and whether the cross was even on target. Replays showed the ball was heading wide before the deflection, making it a classic case of fortune favoring the bold — or the lucky.

Why is Estêvão Willian’s goal ironic?

Estêvão Willian, the 18-year-old Brazilian who scored Palmeiras’ equalizer, has already agreed to join Chelsea after the tournament ends. He’ll be training with the very team he helped defeat on a fluke goal. This isn’t just coincidence — it’s a transfer already finalized. The irony isn’t lost on fans: he’ll now wear the blue jersey he just humiliated in the same tournament.

What does this mean for Chelsea’s chances in the tournament?

Chelsea’s victory was more about survival than superiority. Their first-half performance was excellent, but their second-half collapse exposed defensive fragility and a lack of midfield control. Facing Fluminense — a team with Thiago Silva’s leadership and physicality — they’ll need to fix those issues quickly. If they can’t hold possession and close out games, they won’t reach the final.

Who are the key players to watch in the semifinal against Fluminense?

For Chelsea, Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernández must dictate play, while Reece James needs to be flawless at right-back. For Fluminense, Thiago Silva’s experience will be vital, but keep an eye on young striker Endrick — he’s already been compared to Vinícius Jr. and could exploit Chelsea’s shaky center-back pairing. The midfield battle between Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo and Fluminense’s Lucas Paquetá will decide the tempo.

Is this the first time a Club World Cup match ended on an own goal?

No — but it’s rare. The last time a Club World Cup knockout match ended on an own goal was in 2018, when Al Ain’s defender accidentally scored against Real Madrid. What makes this one different is the emotional weight: the scorer’s impending move to the winning team, the tournament’s new format, and the fact that Chelsea barely deserved to win. It’s a moment that’ll be replayed for years.

How has the 32-team format changed the tournament?

The expanded format has brought more unpredictability. Smaller clubs from Asia, Africa, and CONCACAF are now competing on equal footing with European giants. That’s led to more upsets — and more drama. Palmeiras, the reigning Copa Libertadores champions, were expected to reach the final. Instead, they’re out after a fluke goal. This tournament isn’t just about who’s best — it’s about who survives.