Audio By Carbonatix
Cole Palmer inspired a stunning Chelsea performance as they downed European champions Paris St-Germain to win the first edition of the newly expanded Club World Cup.
The England attacking midfielder scored twice and set up a brilliant third goal for new signing Joao Pedro in a comprehensive 3-0 win over in-form PSG at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Palmer, 23, placed a low shot past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 22nd minute after Malo Gusto ran in behind Nuno Mendes, adding a second with an identical shot from the edge of the box just eight minutes later.
Palmer's defence-splitting pass allowed Joao Pedro to lob Donnarumma just before half-time to stun a team branded "the best in the world" by Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca before kick-off.
In the second half Khvicha Kvaratskhelia immediately tested Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, but his close-range save minutes later from Ousmane Dembele was even more impressive.
Substitute Liam Delap also had a good shot saved as PSG were left with too much of a mountain to climb after early misses by Joao Neves and Desire Doue when the scores were level in the first half.
The game was all but over on 85 minutes when matters got worse for the Parisians, as midfielder Joao Neves was sent off after a brief VAR check for pulling defender Marc Cucurella's hair.
PSG manager Luis Enrique will also face questions after appearing to slap Chelsea forward Joao Pedro in ugly post-match scenes, with unused substitute Presnel Kimpembe having to pull away his coach.
Among the 81,118 people in attendance - the biggest of the tournament - was US President Donald Trump, who sat alongside Fifa president Gianni Infantino as Chelsea took their earnings to about £90m as they became world champions.
Latest Stories
-
Oil hits over 1-week low on hopes of boost to diplomacy in Iran war
1 hour -
They take GH¢100, sometimes GH¢200 – Okada riders allege police extortion in Accra
2 hours -
NACOC: We’ve found no presidential escort among suspects in €225m France cocaine case
2 hours -
Don’t turn students away over trunks and chop boxes – GES
2 hours -
Italian Apple store employees strike on iPhone 18 Pro launch day
2 hours -
Apple’s Tim Cook sees Australia’s social media curbs as ‘world-leading’, PM says
2 hours -
Amazon raises minimum hourly pay by $1 to $20 for US operations workers
2 hours -
Insurance cost has largely remained stable – NPA boss on transport fare pressure
3 hours -
Multiple unions threaten strikes at Barrick’s flagship Mali gold mine, documents show
3 hours -
Infantino invited to African summit as he faces challenge to FIFA leadership
3 hours -
NPA boss flags ‘recalcitrant’ transport operators raising fares arbitrarily
3 hours -
GPRTU fare hike put on ice after talks with government – NPA boss reveals
4 hours -
I’m greatly worried – NPA boss on threat of higher transport fares
4 hours -
We are largely import-dependent – NPA boss on Ghana’s fuel vulnerability
4 hours -
Ghana’s fuel market is built for turbulence – NPA’s Edudzi Tamakloe explains why
5 hours