That’s the end of this live text now – thanks for joining us tonight.
We’ll be back tomorrow for PSG v Real Madrid in the second semi-final – and then for Sunday’s final.
Both of those are 20:00 BST kick-offs. No more 2am nonsense.
This result means we will have a European winner – despite a few Brazilian teams doing better than expected.
Pachuca keeper Oscar Perez was about a month older than Fabio is now when he played in 2017.
Fluminense duo Fabio, 44, and Thiago Silva, 40, are the second and third oldest players to ever feature at a Club World Cup.
Only Jonathan Tah (67) for Bayern Munich against Boca Juniors has had more passes in a game while completing all of them than Trevoh Chalobah tonight.
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Three of Chelsea’s starting XI completed all their passes – Trevoh Chalobah (54), Cole Palmer (27) and Pedro Neto (18).
Gareth Bale
Former Tottenham and Real Madrid winger on Dazn
It’s not just the goals, it’s the link-up play, the passing and the vision.
Even just coming into a new team and trying to understand your teammates is very difficult as well. It was a great all round performance and he thoroughly deserved the player of the match.
I’m not saying Brighton are a small club but he has made the next step up to a team that are playing Champions League and challenging for trophies.
He is on the right trajectory and I think if he keeps his feet on the ground and keeps working hard – you can see the ability he has so hopefully he can keep ticking on.
Callum Wilson
Former Newcastle striker speaking on Dazn
He’s already a player with confidence but he will have wanted to hit the ground running straight away and that’s exactly what he has done.
Now he will have even more confidence because he’s scored not one but two goals.
I preferred the first goal because he’s dropped outside the area and has no other thought in his mind other than taking it on. It was a fantastic finish and what a signing he could turn out to be.
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Chelsea forward Joao Pedro speaking to Dazn: “I think it was a dream. I don’t think it could have been better. Two goals. Now we need to think about the final. I am very happy to score two goals today.”
On his emotions after he scored: “I am happy to score my first goal for Chelsea but also I know this tournament is very important for Fluminense. I can just say sorry but I have to be professional. I play for Chelsea. They pay me to score goals and today I was happy to score.”
On when he knew he was starting today: “He just said to me to play the same as a I did in the last game. Because I had more time to do my stuff, I was happy to score, the team won, the team played well and that is important.”
On his fitness levels: “I try to improve every session but I know it is hard. They helped me as well. Now I need to rest, focus on the final because I think it will be a very important game.”
On what it would mean to win on Sunday: “It would be my first title as well. I think it will be a very important game, a very special game. I came one week ago and now I am going to play a final. I am very happy. The team have been very welcoming me and now we need to move forward.”
On whether he has done his initiation song yet: “No, no, no. They just made me dance in the dressing room. I don’t know if they will make me dance again because I got man-of-the-match but the group is very good, they helped me a lot and I feel comfortable here.”
John Obi Mikel
Former Chelsea midfielder speaking on Dazn
He gave the goalkeeper no chance with his first goal. Thiago Silva may feel like he could have done more but take nothing away from his finish.
And if the first one was good, the second was even better. Cole Palmer did really well and it’s a great pass from Enzo Fernandez but he [Joao Pedro] cuts in and there is no goalkeeper in the world that is saving that. This is a player that is playing with so much confidence.
This is amazing for him and it shows just how good he is and how much Chelsea will need him this season.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca speaking to Dazn: “It is a great achievement. It has been a fantastic season; top four in the Premier League, Conference League and now in the final of this competition – we are so, so happy.”
On Joao Pedro’s goals: “We know that we have players that are able to do that and we know we have to help them get in situations where they can do that and we know Joao can do this.”
On bringing Nicolas Jackson on after an hour: “Nicolas is our player. He is a striker. He played almost all the games last season. Now Joao started today but yes, he was OK.”
On how happy he is with the competition in his squad: “I am very happy to be honest because I know how difficult it is with all the games. Premier League top four, we won the Conference League and now a final here – it is fantastic.”
On the form of the team: “We go game by game. Finally we have the last game of the season and hopefully we can win the tournament.”
On Moises Caicedo’s injury: “I told him that he has to do everything to be on the pitch on Sunday so we will see.”
On facing Paris St-Germain or Real Madrid: “They are both top teams. One won the Champions League this season, the other one last season. They are top teams but we are proud and we are happy to be there.”
Chelsea forward Joao Pedro says today “was a dream”.
We’ll bring you his full quotes soon.
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Callum Wilson
Former Newcastle striker speaking on Dazn
It was a fantastic performance from Chelsea. Joao Pedro has repaid the manager but Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson opened the door for him getting suspensions so today he has managed to get himself a first start and Enzo Maresca has competition within the club now.
Jackson comes on and probably should have squared it to Cole Palmer. You can tell he’s thinking about his chances and opportunities and knowing he has to take them when he can and that sometimes can effect a player and it looks like it has.
In the last round Chelsea conceded a goal to a Brazilian who is joining them after the tournament – Estevao Willian.
And today they scored two goals from a Brazilian against his former club.
John Obi Mikel
Former Chelsea midfielder speaking on Dazn
Joao Pedro with those two goals showed his quality.
He has repaid the faith shown in him by Enzo Maresca to start the game.
It was a fantastic performance from the whole team.
Chelsea have reached their third Fifa Club World Cup final, the third most – only behind Real Madrid (six) and Barcelona (four).
Michael Brown
Former Tottenham midfielder on Dazn
They were comfortable and they controlled possession Chelsea.
They’ve used the squad very well, have shown great game management and have plenty of depth with youngsters that are ready to grow.
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Winning this game has earned £21.9m by the way. Win on Sunday and it’s another £7.3m.
That opens up the whole can of worms of whether this counts as 2024-25, or 2025-26.
I know Manchester City, for example, were calling this the new season.
No matter what people’s thoughts are of this tournament, two finals and a 4th place finish in Enzo’s first season is pretty good.
Anon
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BBC Sport football news reporter at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey
Chelsea reached the final of the Club World Cup as two goals from new signing Joao Pedro helped sink Brazilian side Fluminense.
The 23-year-old, making his full debut against his boyhood club, curled home his first goal in the 18th minute after former Blues defender Thiago Silva failed to clear Pedro Neto’s cross.
His second, a powerful shot which went in off the bar in the 56th minute, sealed victory.
The win ensures Chelsea add £22m to the £60m already earned at the competition, with Joao Pedro quickly helping to repay some of the £55m paid to sign him from Brighton last week.
Christopher Nkunku had multiple chances to add to the scoreline while at the other end, Marc Cucurella cleared Hercules shot off the line and substitute Everaldo had a shot saved.
The Rio-based club may be aggrieved to have seen referee Francois Letexier overturn his own decision to give a first-half penalty for a handball by Trevoh Chalobah after a VAR intervention.
However, Chelsea always looked likely to progress once they opened the scoring in a mostly-full MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which sweltered in 35C heat.
The only blot on Chelsea’s night was a potential injury to midfielder Moises Caicedo, who appeared to injure his ankle in the 93rd minute and walked off the pitch before the match finished.
The Blues will face either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s final at the same venue (20:00 BST).
What’s the main talking point?
The much-fabled American dream is the concept of hard work delivering riches.
In Chelsea’s case, this is true of their players at the Club World Cup, who have both extended their season by a further seven matches in brutal temperatures with additional travel, but may soon have a trophy to show for taking it seriously.
They will bank bonuses because the club have earned more than £80m, which could stretch to almost £100m if they lift the trophy.
Who stood out and who did not?
Goalscorer Joao Pedro was outstanding and won the official man of the match award but so was winger Pedro Neto, who is also potentially his club’s best performer across the whole competition and a contender to be crowned player of the tournament.
Enzo Fernandez and Cucurella were also good while Nkunku had arguably his best performance in 2025 despite continued links with a move away from Stamford Bridge.
What’s next for these teams?
Chelsea will face either Real Madrid or PSG in the final while Fluminense will restart their domestic season with matches against Mirassol and Cruzeiro.
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