2 weeks ago
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Chelsea claimed Club World Cup glory as Cole Palmer inspired a stunning 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in New Jersey.
Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain were strong favourites, having thrashed Real Madrid in the semi-finals, but Chelsea scored three times in a clinical first-half display to earn the title of world champions to follow their Conference League win.
Palmer had a hand in all three goals, scoring the first from Malo Gusto's cut-back with a superb, low finish and adding the second with a near-identical strike only eight minutes later.
Palmer then played in new signing Joao Pedro, who followed up his two-goal performance against Fluminense with a cool finish over Gianluigi Donnarumma as Paris Saint-Germain, who had Joao Neves sent off for pulling Marc Cucurella's hair, were left stunned.
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The victory, in front of watching US president Donald Trump, sees Chelsea bank an estimated £111m in prize money from what was the first edition of the competition in its expanded, 32-team format.
Paris Saint-Germain came into the game hoping to complete a quadruple, six weeks after thrashing Inter 5-0 in the Champions League final, but could not handle Chelsea's intensity as Enzo Maresca's side ruthlessly targeted their left flank.
In a showpiece fixture which featured a glitzy pre-match show and a lengthy half-time show which extended the interval to 24 minutes, breaching IFAB regulations, Chelsea looked sharper and more dangerous right from the start.
After their first-half flurry of goals, they could have extended their lead late in the second when substitute Liam Delap forced two saves from Donnarumma. At the other end, Robert Sanchez also produced some fine stops but the result never looked in doubt, despite the pre-match odds heavily favouring their opponents.
What now for Chelsea?
Chelsea will return to London to begin their pre-season preparations ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.
They start their campaign by hosting Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday August 17, live on Sky Sports.
Sky Sports to show 215 live PL games
From next season, Sky Sports' Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports.
