Chelsea secured their passage to the FIFA Club World Cup last 16 with a commanding 3-0 victory over Esperance, marking their fifth clean sheet in six wins.
Nigerian international Onuche Ogbelu played the entire 90 minutes, making a significant impact in his third tournament appearance, Footballrover reports.
However, it was fellow Nigerian Tosin Adarabioyo who truly stole the spotlight, netting a crucial goal for the Premier League side in Philadelphia.
On one of Philadelphia’s hottest days since 1994, a much-changed Chelsea side initially struggled against a resolute Esperance defence.
Adarabioyo shines as Chelsea cruise past Espérance in Club World Cup
Despite the conditions, the North Africans appeared sharper early on, but clear-cut chances were scarce.
The breakthrough arrived in the third minute of first-half stoppage time when Tosin, left unmarked from Enzo Fernández’s delivery, powerfully headed home.
This set-piece goal proved to be the key to unlocking the game.
Falling behind proved a significant hurdle for Esperance. The challenge grew even steeper when Liam Delap displayed brilliant strength and control to evade two defenders and slot home his first Chelsea goal, doubling the lead before the break.
This double blow severely impacted Esperance’s momentum.
The second half saw a more subdued affair, though the Blues remained the more confident side.
Chelsea seal victory with late strike
Despite opportunities from Fernández, Nkunku, and Madueke, the Blues couldn’t immediately extend their lead.
Manager Enzo Maresca introduced substitutes to manage player freshness for the knockout stages.
One such change, Tyrique George, added a third goal in stoppage time with a long-range effort that eluded Ben Saïd to seal a 3-0 victory for the Blues.
The Premier League side is now set to face Benfica in the last 16 of the Club World Cup, while Esperance exits the tournament.
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