Own goal propels Chelsea past Palmeiras into CWC semis

FRANCK FIFE / AFP

An 83rd-minute Weverton own goal from a deflected Malo Gusto cross gave Chelsea a nervy 2-1 win over a spirited Palmeiras side in the Club World Cup quarter-finals on Friday.

Chelsea made most of the running and dominated early on but were reckless with their finishing and went into the break with a one-goal advantage thanks to Cole Palmer's 16th-minute strike.

Palmeiras roared back after halftime with teenage winger Estevao, who is soon to join Chelsea, equalising in the 53rd minute with a stunning strike from a tight angle.

Seven minutes from time, Gusto's attempted cross deflected off defender Bruno Fuchs and wrongfooted Weverton, the ball bouncing off his back and into the back of the net.

Chelsea will now face another Brazilian side in Fluminense in the semi-finals in New York on Tuesday. 

Substitute Hercules scored his second goal in as many second-half appearances to lift Fluminense into the semifinals with a 2-1 quarterfinal win over Al Hilal in Orlando.

Martinelli also scored late in the first half to continue a fabulous tournament for the Rio de Janeiro club and Brazil overall. Palmeiras also got to the quarterfinals before falling 2-1 on Friday to Chelsea, who will oppose Fluminense on Tuesday in a semifinal match at East Rutherford, N.J.

Al Hilal exits despite a fourth tournament goal for striker Marcos Leonardo, who was in for the injured Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The Saudi side was the last from Asia remaining, having pulled off the tournament's biggest upset with a 4-3, extra-time victory over Manchester City in the second round on Monday.

More from Sports

  • Teenager Andreeva marches into Wimbledon last 16

    Seventh seed Mirra Andreeva outclassed American Hailey Baptiste 6-1 6-3 under the Court One roof to equal her best Wimbledon run by reaching the last 16 on Saturday.

  • Liverpool players join family for Diogo Jota's funeral

    Carrying a red floral wreath bearing his shirt number, Diogo Jota's Liverpool teammates joined relatives and residents in a small Portuguese town on Saturday for the funeral of the football star, who died with his brother in a car crash on Thursday.

  • Sabalenka fights off Raducanu, Alcaraz marches on

    Women's top seed Aryna Sabalenka fought off inspired home favourite Emma Raducanu in a cauldron-like Centre Court atmosphere to keep her Wimbledon quest on track but it was the end of the road for two other Grand Slam champions on Friday.

  • India lead England by 244 runs in Edgbaston test

    India finished day three of the second test on 64-1 to lead England by 244 runs after they dismissed the hosts for 407 in the first innings at Edgbaston on Friday despite Jamie Smith's commanding and unbeaten knock of 184.

  • Grand Slam champions Keys, Osaka crash out of Wimbledon

    There were to be no Fourth of July celebrations for American Madison Keys as she joined the exodus of seeds from Wimbledon with a 6-3 6-3 defeat by 104th-ranked German Laura Siegemund in the third round on Friday.

News