Philadelphia, July 5 (NationPress) A late own-goal by Weverton allowed Chelsea to secure a narrow 2-1 triumph over Palmeiras in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Cole Palmer was instrumental in the first half, scoring to set up a semi-final showdown against fellow Brazilian team Fluminense in New York on Wednesday (IST), with a coveted place in the final on the line.

After halftime, Palmeiras mounted a vigorous response, with teenage sensation Estevao—who is on the verge of joining Chelsea—delivering a remarkable equalizer from a challenging angle in the 53rd minute.

“It was a tough match as we anticipated,” stated Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. “In the first half, we were slightly better than in the second half, as we controlled the game effectively.

“However, once they scored, the dynamics shifted, but ultimately we found the back of the net and deserved the win. Kudos to the players for their exceptional performance.”

Even without key midfielders Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, Chelsea started the match strongly. Andrey Santos, aged 21, made his first start for the club after joining two and a half years earlier. Chelsea dominated possession early on, with Pedro Neto consistently troubling the Palmeiras defense on the right flank.

Palmer opened the scoring in the 16th minute, receiving a pass from Trevoh Chalobah near the edge of the area, skillfully weaving past three defenders and curling a precise left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Despite a commanding first half, Chelsea squandered several clear opportunities, notably when Christopher Nkunku shot over the bar in the 34th minute with only Weverton to beat.

Palmeiras, missing key defenders Joaquin Piquerez, Gustavo Gomez, and Murilo, struggled to contain Chelsea’s dynamic attacking style early on. Nonetheless, they emerged from halftime with renewed vigor.

They nearly equalized when Bruno Fuchs sent a header just wide from a corner before Estevao produced a moment of brilliance, worthy of a goal-of-the-tournament nomination.

The 18-year-old winger showcased his exceptional talent by cutting in from the right, evading Levi Colwill, and firing a powerful strike from a tight angle that soared over Robert Sanchez and slammed into the underside of the crossbar.

“I’m delighted with the win and thrilled that he scored, making it a perfect night,” Maresca remarked about his new signing.

At a time when Palmeiras looked most dangerous, Chelsea snatched the winner at the opposite end. Malo Gusto took advantage of space on the left, and his attempted cross deflected off defender Fuchs, catching Weverton off guard. The ball ricocheted off the goalkeeper’s back and into the net, extinguishing Palmeiras’ hopes of an all-Brazilian semi-final.