Cole Palmer, Chelsea Cool Down Red-Hot PSG To Win FIFA Club World Cup
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Thanks to some cool playmaking, Chelsea stands alone as champions of the world.
Cole Palmer twice busted out his signature shivering celebration as his two first-half goals led the English giants to a 3-0 upset over Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup.
It was a crisp performance for Palmer and Chelsea on a hot afternoon in front of 81,118 spectators — including President Donald Trump — at a sold-out MetLife Stadium.
Chelsea captain Reese James lifts the FIFA Club World Cup trophy after the team's win over PSG. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
PSG, which beat Inter Milan in May to claim its first UEFA Champions League title, saw defender João Neves red-carded late in the game as the Parisians' frustration boiled over. The tension carried on after the match when PSG coach Luis Enrique and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma got tangled up in a brief brawl with Chelsea forward João Pedro.
But the day – and the trophy – belonged to Chelsea. Here’s how Sunday’s finale unfolded:
Despite temperatures hovering just below 90 degrees at kickoff, the match began with both European titans playing at a breakneck pace. Palmer missed the first good scoring opportunity for either team, blasting his shot past PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma but just wide of the top corner of the net.
On the opposite end of the field, the Italian backstop’s Chelsea counterpart, Robert Sánchez, made his first of several big saves during the contest, diving to smother Désiré Doué low on-target drive.
Palmer didn’t squander his next chance, though. The England international took a pass from teammate Malo Gusto and coolly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of Donnarumma’s goal to