Flamengo tops Chelsea in clash of champions in South Philly

Passion finds a way.

Soccer fans in Philly witnessed the power of unity on a steamy afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field when Flamengo turned the game around in the second half with the support of a lively crowd to beat Chelsea 3-1 and advance to the knockout round of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Bruno Henrique and Danilo scored three minutes apart to erase Neto’s opener, and a Nicolas Jackson red card shortly after put the Rio club in control of the game before a late goal from Wallace Yan sealed Flamengo’s place at the top of Group D.

In front of 54,619 fans, the largest yet of the Philly games, the game packed the best atmosphere in the lower rim off the field while delivering the high expectations on the field. Just before the quarter-hour, Chelsea struck first in the scorching mid-day heat when a botched pass from Flamengo defender Wesley at midfield bounced off teammate Erick Pulgar and fell perfectly to Neto. The Portuguese winger raced into goal and slipped a shot past Augustin Rossi for the 1-0 lead.

Flamengo pushed the game for most of the first half, relying on their creators Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Jorginho, who was playing against his former team, but the Brasiléiro leaders couldn’t crack Chelsea’s structure until Bruno Henrique pulled Flamengo level in the 62nd minute. In a bout of possession, Brazilian international Gerson clipped a ball toward the back six for Gonzalo Plata, whose header grazed across the goalmouth out of reach from Chelsea keeper Robert Sánchez, falling to Henrique for the tap in at the post.

Just three minutes later, Flamengo sent the Lincoln Financial Field crowd into a frenzy when Henrique’s header off a Flamengo corner bounced across the goal in similar fashion, this time smashed home by Danilo at the back post. The Brazilian international, recently acquired from Juventus, gave Flamengo a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, made even more insurmountable three short minutes later when Chelsea substitute Nicolas Jackson was sent off for a rash studs-up challenge across the shin of Ayrton Lucas after only just coming into the game.

As the Rio party continued throughout the stadium, Plata combined with substitute Wallace down the right side of the penalty area, breaking Chelsea’s defeated lines with ease, and after a redirection left the Flamengo winger all alone at the six, he couldn’t miss, ensuring Flamengo’s grip on Group D.

Flamengo, winners of the Intercontinental Cup in 1981, will finish their group stage in Orlando against LAFC with the benefit of knowing they’re already into the Round of 16 and will play in Miami on June 29th, likely against Benfica, unless Boca Juniors can beat Auckland City by more than 6 goals and Benfica falls to group winners Bayern Munich by multiple goals.

Chelsea, FIFA Club World Cup winners in 2021, will now face Espérance Sportive de Tunis on Tuesday at Lincoln Financial Field with the winner advancing to the knockout rounds. Espérance scored a late winner to eliminate LAFC, who were the last team in the competition via a playoff with Club América in late May and also the first team out. Espérance keeper Ben Said stopped an extra-time penalty from LAFC’s Denis Bouanga to win 1-0 on a late second-half goal from Youcef Belaili.