Fluminense 0 Chelsea 2: Joao Pedro fires Blues into Club World Cup final with sensational first two goals for club

JOAO PEDRO made it look easy – but the hard part now begins for Chelsea as they prepare for the Club World Cup final.

A blistering double from new striker Pedro in obscene temperatures was enough to put the fourth best Premier League side in sight of the trophy and a £97million windfall.

However, things are going to get really sticky now in sweltering New Jersey because to get their hands on the jackpot they must overcome either European champions Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid.

While Chelsea have done well to get so far in this glorified summer kickabout, the draw has been kind to them.

They have swerved the biggest teams in Europe, PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Inter Milan.

Instead it’s been Club Tunis, Benfica, Palmeiras and then a Fluminense side with a 40-year-old centre half and a keeper who is 44.

No wonder the old boy couldn’t quite stretch his creaking bones to meet the wickedly curling shot and the cannonball pile driver from Stamford Bridge’s new hero which settled the score.

Not that we should take anything away from Pedro who lived up to his billing on his first start for Chelsea in an hour long display that suggests he is hitting the ground running.

But facing the newly crowned winners of the Champions League or the royalty of world football from Spain will be a bit different to seeing off a team from Brazil who only just avoided relegation last season.

There have been wobbles all the way despite Chelsea being favourites in their games throughout.

And this was no exception. A lucky escape on a penalty shout and a shot cleared off the line before Pedro’s second goal sealed victory.

But Chelsea are there and now stand to pick up a handy £81.9m for getting to the final even if that ends in ultimate defeat.

Not a bad little earner even if the players are knackered and will get only a couple of weeks off before they must start preparing for the looming Premier League season again.

The money Chelsea have spent bringing in £60m Pedro, £30m Liam Delap and £48.5m Jamie Gittens is already close to being repaid.

Boss Enzo Maresca has taken this competition seriously like he does most things in life.

For players like Cole Palmer, born and raised in wet and soggy Manchester, the summer heat must be a serious chore, bordering on unhealthy.

He was one of only three English players in the starting XI for a game kicking off in mid-afternoon where it was touching 38 degrees in the sun.

It’ll be much the same this time next year when the real World Cup Final is staged here. 

Even so, the Premier League side took control of the game early on, obviously looking to get the game wrapped up before grown men started melting.

An attack down the left orchestrated by Pedro Neto had Fluminense on the back foot. 

The Portuguese winger has hit the heights consistently this tournament – more so than any other Chelsea player with goals and assists.

His ball into the box was poor though and easily met by defender Thiago Santos. But instead of clearing the danger the pass out of the area was low and straight to Chelsea’s dangerous new attacker.

The way Pedro picked his spot with a devilishly curling right-foot shot underlined how at home he feels just a week after signing.

The muted celebration symbolised what Fluminense means to Pedro, who started his career there. 

But yet again with the game in the palms of their hands, Chelsea went all soft.

Just three minutes after taking the lead, defender Marc Cucurella was called upon to hook a shot from Hercules off the line.

And with nine minutes of the first half remaining their luck held again with a penalty call.

French ref Francois Letexier pointed to the spot when Trevoh Chalobah handled a glancing header from Santos – the centre back involved in the first goal.

VAR has been very much in the background for Chelsea this tournament and the first intervention by the spy in the sky saved their skins.

The ref reviewed his decision on the pitchside monitor and U-turned after replays showed Chalobah keeping his left hand in a natural position close to his side as the ball cannoned off him.

And from a scruffy breakout from defence Pedro sealed it for Chelsea when he was put clear through on the left by Enzo Fernandez.

The Brazilian cut inside and buried a stunning rising shot in off the underside of the bar on 56 minutes before being taken off on the hour mark.