ES Tunis 0-3 Chelsea: Delap debut goal, Blues end 2nd to face Benfica in Last 16

First goal for Liam Delap as Chelsea player with Enzo Fernández delivering two assists as Blues will face Benfica in the next round of Club World Cup.

Match Report

The Blues took control with two stoppage-time goals just before the break and booked their spot for the knockout round at the Club World Cup.

Chelsea FC beat Espérance 3-0 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia to qualify for the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.

With CR Flamengo having already won Group D to advance, the Blues next face Group C winners SL Benfica in Charlotte on 28 June, after the Portuguese side secured top spot with a 1-0 victory against FC Bayern München.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca made eight changes the team that had lost 3-1 to Flamengo. With the Londoners only needing a draw to go through and Espérance sitting back and looking to counter, the circumstances made for an uneventful first half until Chelsea struck twice before half-time.

Enzo Fernandez played provider on both goals. In the third minute of stoppage time, the Argentinian midfielder chipped a free-kick to Tosin Adarabioyo, whose free header in the box dropped inside the far post.

Espérance goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said was left standing again two minutes later. Fernandez lofted a ball to newly signed striker Liam Delap, who turned his marker and dribbled into space to slot a shot into the open net for a 2-0 Blues advantage.

Maresca used the second half to play some of Chelsea's bright young talents. Midfielder Dario Essugo and striker Marc Guiu came off the bench in the 59th minute, and winger Tyrique George and midfielder Andrey Santos entered the game in the 67th minute. Defender Mamadou Sarr was an 82nd-minute substitute.

George made it 3-0 Chelsea with a blistering strike just before the final whistle.

The outcome was never in doubt after those late first-half goals, and the Blues head into that Benfica showdown in Charlotte with confidence restored.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

5' Malo Gusto makes a successful defense

8' Top tackle by Malo Gusto!

15' Delap with a chance but it's too easy for the goalkeeper!

17' Ben Ali almost breaks Madueke's ankle, not even a yellow

21' So close to an early lead for Chelsea

32' 37℃ on Matchday, players go on a cooling break

36' Delap misses a massive chance!

43' Madueke starts walking like he just landed on Mars

47' Fernandez shoots wide from the edge of the box after some good work from Madueke

48' Tosin Adarabioyo scores a header!!!! ES Tunis 0-1 Chelsea

50' Delap scores his first GOAL as a Chelsea player!! ES Tunis 0-2 Chelsea

50' Nkunku goes down in box,no penalty

52' Enzo's shot over the bar

60' Delap and Lavia off, Marc Guiu and Essugo on!

64' Madueke's shot wide out

68' Substitution: Enzo off

75' Match Event for ES Tunis vs Chelsea

80' No penalty for Chelsea after VAR REVIEW!

90' Guiu's shot saved by goalkeeper

90+6' Tyrique George MAKES IT THREE with a stunner!! ES Tunis 0-3 Chelsea

Line-ups

ES Tunis XI: Meriah, Yan Sasse, Mohamed Ben Ali, Bechir Ben Said, Mohamed Amine Tougai, Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida, Elias Mokwana, Onuche Ogbelu, Abdramane Konaté, Khalil Guenichi, Achref Jabri

Subs: Ayman Ben Mohamed, Hamza Jelassi, Rodrigo Rodrigues, Houssem Tka, Mohamed Sedki Debchi, Mohamed Wael Derbali, Raed Bouchniba, Chiheb Jebali, Amanallah Memmiche, Mohamed Rayane Hamrouni, Haythem Dhaou, Aziz Koudhai

Chelsea XI: Adarabioyo, Nkunku, Dewsbury-Hall, Badiashile, Madueke, Jørgensen, Enzo, Gusto, Liam Delap, Lavia, Josh Acheampong

Subs: Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Robert Sánchez, Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Caicedo, Colwill, Dário Essugo, Mamadou Sarr, Andrey Santos, Tyrique George, Mike Penders, Guiu, Aarón Anselmino