Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain met at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in a high-stakes clash to claim the first title of the revamped FIFA Club World Cup 2025. It didn’t take long for the Blues to make their mark, with Cole Palmer striking twice in just eight minutes to give Chelsea a commanding lead.
The opening goal came in the 22nd minute after a long ball from goalkeeper Robert Sánchez. PSG’s Nuno Mendes misjudged the play, accidentally heading the ball into space for Malo Gusto.
The Chelsea right-back surged forward, saw his initial shot blocked inside the box, but after capturing the rebound, Gusto found Palmer at the edge of the area. The young Englishman wasted no time, calmly slotting the ball past the keeper to give Chelsea a 1–0 lead.
But Palmer wasn’t done yet. Just minutes after the cooling break, Chelsea regained possession near midfield. Defender Levi Colwill, stepping into a midfield role, delivered a pinpoint long ball into space for Palmer to chase. The English forward cut inside with ease, leaving both Vitinha and Lucas Beraldo on the ground, and slotted the ball into the same bottom corner for his second of the night in the 30th minute.
PSG had enjoyed an immaculate run throughout the FIFA Club World Cup, with Botafogo being the only team to score against them—and hand them their only loss. Their other five opponents failed to find the back of the net. But now, in just the first half of the final, the French side has already conceded three goals—a dismal scenario for Luis Enrique and company.
A unique challenge for Luis Enrique in the second half
Conceding three goals before halftime is a major blow for Luis Enrique, whose team entered the final touted as the best in the world. The Spanish manager now faces a challenge unlike any he’s overcome in his coaching career—he’s never reversed a three-goal deficit at halftime.
Still, there’s a historical precedent that gives PSG fans hope: La Remontada. In 2017, Luis Enrique’s Barcelona pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in soccer history, defeating PSG 6–1 in the Champions League after scoring four times in the second half. Now, he’ll need to inspire something just as extraordinary to turn the tide in New Jersey.
