Chelsea Delivers Statement Win Over ES Tunis
No shortage of drama in Philadelphia as Chelsea thumped ES Tunis 3-0 at Lincoln Financial Field, punching their ticket to the knockout round of the FIFA Club World Cup. Forget the stuttering start—they went from a sobering defeat to Flamengo straight to a head-turning performance that put doubters in their place.
It didn’t take long for Chelsea to grab control of the match. In just the 13th minute, Tosin Adarabioyo out-jumped the Tunisian defense, planting a header into the net and setting the tone for the evening. That opener wasn’t the only surprise in store. Minutes later, 19-year-old Liam Delap announced himself on the big stage, netting his very first Chelsea goal—a finish he’ll probably be replaying for years. Then, late in the game, Tyrique George secured the three points with a calm strike, making sure ES Tunis had no lifeline.
The game’s rhythm was shaped by a rapid-fire two-minute burst in the first half that left ES Tunis reeling. Chelsea maintained the upper hand, stifling attempts at a comeback and dominating possession for large stretches. The North Africans looked deflated, unable to match Chelsea’s speed and sharp passing. It was a textbook example of using youth and energy to close out high-stress group games.
Resilient Blues Bounce Back in Group D
The result was more than just a tally in the win column. Chelsea knew they had to not only win, but win big—goal difference was the tiebreaker they needed, with ES Tunis matching them on points. By the end of ninety minutes, Chelsea sat on three points with a neutral goal difference, just enough to shove ES Tunis—on three points and a minus-one goal difference—out of the competition.
Flamengo, who handed Chelsea a 3-1 defeat earlier, comfortably topped the group with two straight wins and booked their place atop Group D. Their clinical performance left LAFC rooted at the bottom—LA’s squad failed to pick up any points and exits the tournament without a win.
Chelsea’s bounce-back wasn’t just about the scoreline. Their previous game against Flamengo had gone sideways when Nicolas Jackson saw red, derailing their rhythm and raising concerns about squad depth. This time, the young guns stepped up. Liam Delap and Tyrique George, both stepping onto the world stage with cool heads, showed there’s fresh blood ready to fight when the stakes get high.
While Chelsea supporters can breathe a little easier, the real test lies ahead. The knockout rounds promise tougher opponents and zero room for error. But after a night like this—where pressure brought out the best in their youngest stars—there’s good reason to believe Chelsea might not be done surprising yet.
