João Pedro (23), who has just put on a Chelsea jersey, led the team to the FIFA Club World Cup final.
Pedro scored two goals in the semifinal against Fluminense held on the 9th (Korea time) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, leading Chelsea to a 2-0 victory.
With this win, Chelsea advanced to the final. They will face the winner of the semifinal between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid on the 14th, aiming for their second title after 2021.
Pedro scored the opening goal in the 18th minute of the first half. After a cross from Neto, who broke through the left side, deflected off a defender, he finished it with a right-foot shot. In the 11th minute of the second half, he received a pass from Enzo Fernández during a counterattack and shook the net once again from the left side of the penalty area. The shot hit the crossbar and fell inside the goal line.
Fluminense used all their substitution cards and attempted to fight back, but failed to score. Pedro was substituted for Nicolas Jackson in the 15th minute of the second half, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.
Pedro transferred to Chelsea from Brighton on the 3rd. He recorded multi-goals in both matches.
He signed an 8-year contract with Chelsea until 2033.
The match attracted attention as the 'Pedro Derby.' Fluminense is the team he was part of during his youth. After scoring against his former team, Pedro restrained his celebration and showed respect.
According to BBC, Chelsea secured an additional £21.9 million (approximately 4.08 billion won) by reaching the final. This recovers more than one-third of the £60 million (approximately 11.19 billion won) spent on acquiring Pedro.
After the match, Pedro said in an interview with 'DAZN,' "It couldn't be better. It feels like a dream. I'm happy to have scored my first goal. Winning this tournament could be the first title of my career."
He added, "I transferred just a week ago, and I'm already facing the final," expressing his excitement.
Gareth Bale, former winger of Real Madrid, praised Pedro's performance, saying, "It wasn't just about the goal. He excelled in all aspects, including link-up play, passing, and vision." England striker Callum Wilson also noted, "He is a confident player. He must have wanted to leave a strong impression from the start, and he did exactly that. A good signing for Chelsea."
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea's coach, smiled and said, "I already knew how good Pedro is."
If Paris Saint-Germain, where Lee Kang-in belongs, advances to the final, Pedro will become a key player whom the PSG defense must watch out for.
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