Joao Pedro marked his first Chelsea start in style as the Brazilian forward scored both goals to steer his side into the Fifa Club World Cup final with a 2-0 win over Fluminense at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old, signed last week from Brighton & Hove Albion for a reported £60 million, struck in each half to book a place in Sunday’s showpiece against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.
“We are very happy and very proud to be in the final on Sunday,” said Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. “This is the first edition of the Club World Cup with this format and the best clubs in the world are here.”
Pedro wasted no time showing why the London club were prepared to spend big on him, producing a clinical display to down his boyhood club, who he chose not to celebrate against.
“When I was young they gave everything to me, they showed me to the world,” said Pedro, who began his career at Fluminense before moving to Watford in 2020.
“If I am here now it is because they believed in me, so I am very grateful. But this is football, I have to be professional. I feel sorry for them, but I have to do my job.”
Pedro’s sharpness, Maresca said, was no surprise despite it being his first game back from the off-season.
“We are happy for Joao. He has the quality to decide games like today,” said the Chelsea boss. “He was on holiday so maybe a bit fresher than the others.
“We knew what Joao was like. We brought him in because this season we’ve faced many teams with low blocks, and his quality is very good against these kinds of teams.”
The win caps an impressive campaign for Chelsea, who finished fourth in the Premier League and lifted the Europa Conference League title.
“The last few years have not been what this club deserves, but this year things have gone pretty well and now we are in the final,” said Maresca. “We are proud to help bring Chelsea back where they belong.”
One concern for Chelsea is the fitness of midfielder Moises Caicedo, who limped off in stoppage time.
“Moi twisted his ankle. When it happened I told him we could finish with 10 men to avoid making it worse,” Maresca said. “He wanted to try and play on, but felt pain. Hopefully he’s fit for Sunday.”
Despite the defeat, Fluminense coach Renato Portaluppi praised his team’s run to the semi-finals.
“Fluminense’s campaign was wonderful, I think we all felt that,” he said. “Chelsea deserved the win, but I am proud of everything we did. We go out with our heads held high.”
MATCH INFO
Iceland 0 England 1 (Sterling pen 90 1)
Man of the match Kari Arnason (Iceland)
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
South and West: From a Notebook
Joan Didion
Fourth Estate
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
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if you go
The flights
Emirates fly direct from Dubai to Houston, Texas, where United have direct flights to Managua. Alternatively, from October, Iberia will offer connections from Madrid, which can be reached by both Etihad from Abu Dhabi and Emirates from Dubai.
The trip
Geodyssey’s (Geodyssey.co.uk) 15-night Nicaragua Odyssey visits the colonial cities of Leon and Granada, lively country villages, the lake island of Ometepe and a stunning array of landscapes, with wildlife, history, creative crafts and more. From Dh18,500 per person, based on two sharing, including transfers and tours but excluding international flights. For more information, visit visitnicaragua.us.
About Seez
Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017
Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer
Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
Sector: Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing
Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed
Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A
Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
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