Flamengo staged an impressive comeback to defeat Chelsea 3-1 in their Club World Cup Group D match on Friday, marking their second consecutive win. The Brazilian side trailed early on but managed to turn the game around with two quick goals in the second half, ultimately securing the top spot in their group.
The match began with Flamengo dominating possession and pressuring Chelsea high up the pitch. However, their early chances were thwarted by Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez, who denied attempts from Luiz Araujo, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, and Ayrton Lucas. Chelsea capitalized on a Flamengo mistake in the 13th minute, as Pedro Neto seized on a loose ball and slotted it past Agustin Rossi to give his team the lead.
The goal boosted Chelsea’s confidence, and they began to create more scoring opportunities. Malo Gusto and Liam Delap tested Rossi as they sought to extend their advantage. Flamengo nearly equalized just before halftime, but Enzo Fernandez cleared a Gerson volley off the line to preserve Chelsea’s lead. The English side also had a penalty appeal denied when Fernandez appeared to be fouled in the area.
The second half saw a resurgent Flamengo side, with substitute Bruno Henrique making an immediate impact in the 62nd minute. Gerson’s deep cross found Gonzalo Plata, who headed the ball across goal for Henrique to tap in the equalizer. Three minutes later, Flamengo scored again from a corner, as Henrique’s header set up Danilo for a close-range finish.
Chelsea’s hopes were further dashed when Nicolas Jackson received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Ayrton Lucas in the 68th minute. With the numerical advantage, Flamengo sealed the win in the 83rd minute when Wallace Yan converted a rebound after a strong run and cross from Gonzalo Plata.
The result leaves Flamengo at the top of Group D with six points from two matches, while Chelsea sits second with three points. Esperance de Tunis and Los Angeles FC are yet to earn a point, although both have a match in hand. Flamengo’s victory marks a significant turnaround in their campaign, and they will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches.
