Flamengo Stuns Chelsea with 3-1 Win, Takes Control of Club World Cup Group D

Flamengo's Dominance

In a commanding performance, Flamengo defeated Chelsea 3-1 on Friday at Lincoln Financial Field, securing the top spot in Group D of the FIFA Club World Cup. The English side took an early lead through Pedro Neto in the first half, but the Brazilian team roared back after the break with goals from Bruno Henrique, Danilo, and Wallace Yan.

Flamengo team at World Cup 2025.

Flamengo Dominates Second Half

Flamengo started the match on the front foot, with Arrascaeta and Ayrton Lucas threatening from long range. Chelsea responded with tighter marking and a more compact defense, waiting for a mistake. That moment came in the 12th minute, when Pedro Neto capitalized on a midfield error by Wesley, racing forward and finishing past Rossi to open the scoring.

Despite dominating possession, Flamengo struggled to penetrate Chelsea’s defense in the first half. The Brazilian side registered six shots to Chelsea’s four, and also earned five corner kicks, compared to just one from the Blues.

After halftime, Chelsea initially pressed higher, but Flamengo created the first clear opportunity, with Gerson missing a chance inside the box. Coach Filipe Luís made a decisive substitution, bringing on Bruno Henrique for Arrascaeta in the 55th minute—and it paid off immediately. The forward equalized just one minute later, and by the 58th minute, Danilo completed the comeback.

Chelsea’s task became even harder in the 67th minute, when Jackson was sent off. Just ten minutes later, Wallace Yan—who had only just come on—scored Flamengo’s third with his first touch of the ball. Despite some late possession from Chelsea, they failed to threaten Rossi’s goal again.

Bruno Henrique and Danilo celebrating the goal.

Flamengo Secures Knockout Stage Spot

With the win and Espérance’s victory over LAFC earlier in the day, Flamengo became the first team to qualify for the Round of 16. Coach Filipe Luís’ squad now sits on six points and is mathematically guaranteed a place in the next stage of the competition.

Man of the Match: Bruno Henrique

Chosen by fans in a FIFA poll, Bruno Henrique was named Player of the Match. His impact was undeniable—coming on with Flamengo trailing 1-0, he leveled the score within six minutes and then assisted Danilo’s goal to put the team ahead. Wallace Yan later added the third to seal the win.

Bruno Henrique celebration after scoring the first goal for Flamengo.

A Bit of Banter

After the match, Flamengo’s official social media account playfully mocked Chelsea by replacing the lion from the English club’s crest with a character from the animated film A Bug’s Life. On their English-language page, Flamengo posted the final score along with the cheeky caption: “An easy win against the Blues from London.”