Pedro brace sends Chelsea into final

Caicedo back

Chelsea was without the suspended Levi Colwill and Delap, but Moises Caicedo returned after a ban.

The Premier League side was simply too strong for its opponent in a game watched by 70,556 fans on a hot afternoon just outside New York City.

Chelsea went ahead thanks to a wonderful strike by its new forward, who controlled the ball on the edge of the box after Silva had cleared a Pedro Neto cross.

Joao Pedro took a touch and curled a shot beyond veteran goalkeeper Fabio into the far corner, before holding up his hands apologetically towards the Fluminense fans behind the goal.

The team from Rio de Janeiro was an intermittent threat, and Hercules — match winner against Al Hilal in the last eight — almost equalized in the 25th minute.

He played a one-two with German Cano and lifted the ball over goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, but Marc Cucurella cleared off the line.

Fluminense was then awarded a penalty 10 minutes before the interval when a set-piece delivery by Rene struck the arm of Trevoh Chalobah in the box.

However, French referee Francois Letexier overturned the decision following a VAR check.

"Had we been awarded the penalty, we would have scored and it would have been a different story," said Portaluppi.

Chelsea got its second goal on 56 minutes, just after Fluminense had sacrificed one of its three centerbacks to send on an extra attacker.

Enzo Fernandez released Pedro on the break, and the forward produced another clinical finish in off the bar.

There were more chances for Chelsea, but the new boy's double strike sufficed, with the only potential black mark on the day being the knock that forced Caicedo to limp off before full-time.

Agencies