Flamengo 3-1 Chelsea: 'Mengão' dances the 'Blues'

Authentic bombshell in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Flamengo, with an authentic dance, surpassed Chelsea with a lapidary 3-1 at Lincoln Financial Field. With annotations from Bruno Henrique, Danilo and Wallace Yan, the carioca team crowned a forceful victory that places them as leaders of group D, with a perfect step and six points in two days.

Pedro Neto put the momentary advantage for Chelsea

The commitment began to become a give and take between both teams, since they came out with game proposals not focused on possession, but on verticality. Although the first dangerous situations were generated by Flamengo, the goal would end up falling first in favor of Chelsea, who did not forgive an error in the back line of the Brazilians.

Already at 13', one of their scorers in the tournament, Pedro Neto, obtained a prize for insistence. After a clearance from the 'Blue' back line, the resistance of the 'Mengão' failed to get the ball out on two occasions.

That mismatch was not wasted by a Pedro Neto who, stumbling, took the sphere. Already in open field and without opposition, he began a race with the ball dominated and beat Agustín Rossi in the hand-to-hand with a dry left-footed shot, which despite the touch of the goalkeeper, ended up shaking the net.

Flamengo felt the blow, but did not give up

From that annotation, the duel became a process very interrupted by infractions and a lot of friction. However, far from shrinking, the 'Fla' sought to face up.

He maintained possession and tried to reduce the disadvantage. Although he would not achieve the tie before the break, he did manage to make a Chelsea uncomfortable, who felt strange without control of the ball. Even so, the Londoners knew how to defend with criteria, retreating in their field and closing all the spaces to prevent the Cariocas from altering the score.

Flamengo reacts strongly

Already for the second half, Flamengo came out with an overwhelming pace of play. Although Chelsea, more discreet, also generated dangerous occasions: one that Cucurella missed at 49' and another at 56', when Filipe Luis's team were about to become an own goal.

However, in the midst of that apparent period of confusion, in the blink of an eye, the 'Mengão' regained control. Already with the sign of favorite and the feeling that he deserved the tie, Gonzalo Plata launched a stellar hit that forced Robert Sánchez to a great intervention.

Now, that was only the omen of what was coming...

Bruno Henrique equalized and Danilo consummated the 'Mengão' comeback

At 62', Flamengo made it 1-1 thanks to Bruno Henrique, who had entered in the second half. In a play started from the right side with a cross to the area, the sphere was connected by Gonzalo Plata, who lowered it with a subtle header towards the first post. There appeared Bruno Henrique, completely free of mark, and with a slight touch of right sent the ball to the bottom of the net, impossible for Robert Sánchez despite his stretch.

Just a few minutes later, and taking advantage of the fact that Chelsea was still 'groggy' after the tie, Flamengo turned the score around. This time, in a set-piece play. The shipment to the area was lowered by head in the heart of the area by Bruno Henrique, and near the first post appeared Danilo, who connected with precision to sign the 2-1.

An advantage deserved by what was seen in the process of the crossing, and that was going to acquire an even greater meaning after the following action. Only a few moments after the second goal, at 67', Chelsea was left with ten men. Nico Jackson was sent off for a reckless entry on Ayrton, further complicating the closing of the match for the English, who were already behind on the scoreboard and now had to row in numerical inferiority.

Wallace Jan sentences the match for the 'Fla'

Unfortunately, for Chelsea, their reaction capacity was practically nil. Despite some ineffective attempts to cut distances with one less man, Flamengo played intelligently: he managed the rhythm of the actions, made the clock run and knew how to wait for his moment to give the final thrust to the 'Blues'.

That last blow came at 83'. Wallace Yan signed the 3-1 in a fortuitous play, after a shot by Gonzalo Plata that did not find the goal and ended up falling at his feet. The striker did not hesitate: he took an unstoppable right-footed shot for Robert Sánchez, who could do nothing this time.

A stellar triumph for Flamengo

That annotation was lapidary. It deactivated any option of comeback by Chelsea, who never managed to decipher the good defensive approach of Flamengo. In the final minutes, those of Enzo Maresca did not find cracks, and the carioca team closed the duel with order and authority.

The 'Mengão' not only took a great victory, but offered a demonstration of strength of South American football, clearly prevailing over a European rival. A day that adds to the recent fall of PSG against Botafogo (1-0).