Cole Palmer produced a sensational performance to lead Chelsea to a stunning 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final on Sunday night, capping a historic evening for the Premier League side at the MetLife Stadium in New York.
The 22-year-old forward was at the heart of Chelsea’s triumph, scoring twice and providing an assist during a dominant first-half display that left the reigning European champions reeling. The win earned Chelsea the first-ever title of FIFA’s newly expanded 32-team tournament, along with a prize of over £90 million.
Palmer opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a cool left-footed finish after Malo Gusto’s initial shot was blocked. Eight minutes later, he added his second cutting in from the right after a long pass from Levi Colwill before slotting past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Before halftime, Palmer turned provider, setting up Joao Pedro for Chelsea’s third goal a composed finish that effectively sealed the win.
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PSG, who had been chasing their fifth trophy of the season, never recovered from Chelsea’s first-half blitz. Frustrations boiled over in the 85th minute when Joao Neves was shown a straight red card for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair. Tensions flared again after the final whistle, with PSG manager Luis Enrique confronting Pedro during Chelsea’s celebrations.
Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez also played a crucial role, making key saves to keep out efforts from Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, and Neves, preserving a well-earned clean sheet.
The final, witnessed by a crowd of 81,118 including U.S. President Donald Trump featured a spectacular halftime show headlined by Doja Cat, with performances by Nigerian star Tems and others, adding to the occasion’s glamour.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca hailed his team’s effort, calling it “a night of belief, bravery, and brilliance,” as the Blues etched their name in the record books as the first champions of FIFA’s new global club competition.
