Chelsea confirms Esperance's elimination from the FIFA Club World Cup
- Andrew Olsson
- Jun 24
- 2 min read
Tunisian champions Esperance Sportive de Tunis were no match on Tuesday evening for English Premier League side Chelsea in a 0-3 defeat that resulted in their elimination from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Goals in first half stoppage time from Tosin Adarabioyo and Liam Delap put Chelsea well beyond reach before Tyrique George struck late at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to help the Blues advance out of Group D to the Round of 16 where they will face Portuguese club Benfica.
The Premier League side had trouble breaking down a motivated Esperance side for most of the first half. An organized defense kept the Tunisian champions in the match as they clawed and scrapped to keep Chelsea from scoring.
However, the London giants dominated the run of play with their physical superiority and Esperance created little threat in an overmatched attack. A set piece early in first half stoppage time ended with an unmarked Adarabioyo producing a perfectly placed header beyond the reach of EST goalkeeper Bechir Ben Saïd, who could only watch as the ball settled inside his post.
The Tunisia national team keeper, whose heroic penalty kick save gave Esperance a victory over Los Angeles FC in their previous game, failed to react soon after when Liam Delap's clever finish doubled the advantage just before halftime.
The match was all but over in the second half where Chelsea once again were far more dangerous. It was more of the same from the first half and after escaping a potential penalty kick, substitute George fired in a shot from distance that Ben Saïd failed to keep out.
Esperance finish in third place in Group D, two points ahead of Los Angeles FC who drew Flamengo 1-1 in the other game played simultaneously. Brazil's Flamengo advance as the group winners and will face Bayern Munich in Miami on June 29. Chelsea will go to Charlotte, North Carolina where they will take on Benfica on June 28.
Final Group D Table
Points | GD | |
Flamengo | 7 | +4 |
Chelsea | 6 | +3 |
Esperance Tunis | 3 | -4 |
Los Angeles FC | 1 | -3 |
Flamengo and Chelsea advance to the Round of 16.
