Chelsea secured their place in the last 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup with a convincing 3-0 win over ES Tunis, as 22-year-old striker Liam Delap marked his debut with his first goal for the club following a £30 million move from Ipswich Town earlier this month. The match, played in scorching conditions at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, was watched by 32,967 fans who saw a rotated Chelsea side get the job done in testing weather.
Delap’s goal came in first-half stoppage time, just moments after defender Tosin Adarabioyo broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute. Adarabioyo headed home an expertly delivered Enzo Fernandez free-kick to give the Premier League giants a deserved lead. Delap followed that up with a composed finish a silky first touch, quick turn, and low drive into the bottom corner past Tunisian goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said, sealing a memorable moment for the young forward and giving Chelsea a 2-0 cushion going into the break.
The Blues’ boss Enzo Maresca made eight changes to his starting lineup, resting key players including Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, and tournament top scorer Pedro Neto due to the oppressive 36°C heat and high humidity in the U.S. capital. With striker Nicolas Jackson suspended following a red card in the previous game against Flamengo, Delap was handed the opportunity to lead the line and he didn’t disappoint.
In a second half that lacked the intensity of the first, Chelsea kept control and avoided any real danger from their Tunisian opponents, who needed a win to leapfrog the English side and advance. ES Tunis, despite early energy, failed to create significant chances against a solid Chelsea backline.
Substitute Tyrique George sealed the win with a third goal deep into stoppage time, finishing with precision to cap off a strong team display. The late goal ensured Chelsea not only progressed but did so with confidence heading into the next stage of the competition.
Chelsea now advances as runners-up in Group D, finishing behind Brazilian side Flamengo, and will face Portuguese giants Benfica in the round of 16. The match against Benfica will be a crucial test, especially with Jackson still suspended. However, Delap’s performance has given Maresca another viable attacking option going forward.
The win was also a valuable confidence boost for a squad still finding cohesion under Maresca’s leadership. With depth being tested due to rotation and conditions, Chelsea’s young players stepped up and none more so than Delap, who will now be pushing for more minutes as the tournament intensifies.
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