Cole Palmer delivered a ruthless tactical display as Chelsea dismantled PSG 3 0 in the FIFA Club World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium.
Palmer’s first contribution came in the 22nd minute, combining with Malo Gusto before slotting past Gianluigi Donnarumma with his left foot. Eight minutes later, he duped Vitinha with a body feint and repeated the finish, same foot, same angle. The 23 year old became the first player to score twice in a single half against a Luis Enrique led PSG.
His third impact moment came before halftime, this time as provider. Palmer broke PSG’s line with a weighted ball into João Pedro, who chipped Donnarumma to make it 3 0. Pedro now has three goals in three games since joining from Brighton.
Chelsea’s tactical structure under Enzo Maresca smothered PSG’s possession play, pressing high and forcing turnovers in dangerous zones. The French champions, winners of Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Champions League, and Trophée des Champions this season, looked powerless.
No team had led PSG by three goals at halftime since Nantes in 2022. Chelsea did it with sharp vertical movement, positional overloads, and relentless pressure off the ball.
PSG’s response was limp; João Neves’ late red card for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair capped a frustrating night.
Post match Stats:
✓ Chelsea became the first English club to win multiple Club World Cups
✓They’ve now won six straight international finals excluding Super Cups
✓This is only PSG’s second loss by more than a single goal in a final after their 2000 loss to Gueugnon
✓Palmer is the second Chelsea player in the Premier League era with multiple goal involvements in multiple finals after Didier Drogba
✓Chelsea have now won finals by three or more goals on four occasions 1955, 2019, 2025 UEFA Conference League, and now this
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