Chelsea’s heavily rotated squad stepped up in style, defeating Esperance de Tunis 3-0 in their final Group D clash at the FIFA Club World Cup on Tuesday. Goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Liam Delap, and Tyrique George sealed the victory and a place in the round of 16.
Despite the high stakes, manager Enzo Maresca opted to rest several key players, including Cole Palmer and goalkeeper Robert Sánchez. The Blues were also without striker Nicolas Jackson, who is serving a two-match suspension after his red card in the previous 3-1 defeat to Flamengo.
Nevertheless, the second-string side dominated possession and remained patient throughout a tense opening half. While their creativity in the final third was lacking at times, Chelsea’s persistence eventually paid off with two quick goals just before halftime.
Late First-Half Blitz Breaks Esperance Resistance
The first half saw Chelsea dictate the tempo but struggle to convert their possession into clear-cut chances. New signing Liam Delap came close twice — first with a header cleared off the line in the 20th minute and then with a missed effort from close range 10 minutes later.
Just as frustration began to mount, Chelsea broke the deadlock in stoppage time. Defender Tosin Adarabioyo rose highest from a corner to steer a powerful header into the bottom left corner, sparking celebrations among the traveling fans.
Barely a minute later, Delap made amends for his earlier misses. A defensive lapse from Esperance allowed him to collect a loose ball inside the box, glide past a defender, and slot home into the far corner — his first goal since arriving at Stamford Bridge from Ipswich Town for £30 million.
-Second-Half Control Without Risk
With a comfortable 2-0 lead, Chelsea managed the second half efficiently. They focused on maintaining possession and nullifying any potential threat from Esperance, whose attacks were sporadic and easily contained.
Maresca’s side showed defensive discipline, with the backline marshaled effectively by Adarabioyo and his teammates. Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, standing in for Sánchez, had little to do throughout the match as the Tunisian side struggled to create meaningful chances.
While Chelsea didn’t push aggressively for more goals, their control was never seriously challenged, with midfielders orchestrating play and ensuring the game stayed firmly in their hands.
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Adarabioyo, Delap, George Fire Chelsea Past Esperance in Club World Cup Triumph
The icing on the cake came deep into stoppage time when substitute Tyrique George made it 3-0. Latching onto a loose ball just outside the penalty area, George unleashed a crisp shot that sailed past the Esperance goalkeeper into the bottom corner.
It was a fitting end to a match that saw Chelsea’s young and fringe players rise to the occasion. George’s goal underlined the squad’s depth and potential, giving Maresca a welcome selection headache ahead of the next round.
-What’s Next for Chelsea:Benfica Awaits in the Knockouts
Chelsea finished Group D in second place with six points, narrowly behind Flamengo, who were held to a 1-1 draw by LAFC. Esperance finished third with three points, while LAFC exited the tournament bottom of the group with one point.
Up next for the Blues is a high-stakes clash against Group C winners Benfica on Saturday at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Meanwhile, Flamengo will face European giants Bayern Munich, the Group C runners-up, in Miami on Sunday.
With Nicolas Jackson still suspended, Maresca may once again rely on his squad depth as Chelsea look to progress further in their quest for the Club World Cup title.
