ONLY Pedro Neto had something to celebrate on Nicolas Jackson’s nightmare birthday.
Neto‘s dashing early opener was overturned by Flamengo dancing through for three second-half goals as Chelsea suffered their first Club World Cup defeat.
GettyPedro Neto buzzed well in the first half before Chelsea fell away[/caption]
AlamyBlues’ sub Nicolas Jackson picked up a crazy sending-off[/caption]
Enzo Maresca‘s men just about deserved their interval lead in the Philadelphia heat.
But the Brazilians’ revival after the break was rewarded with a quickfire double midway through the period.
Bruno Henrique and Danilo stabbed home two replica far-post goals in the space of three minutes – with Chelsea lacking leaders in their defence.
Jackson then earned the most ridiculous of red cards just four minutes after replacing new £30million striker Liam Delap.
And Wallace Yan further punished the Blues’ collapse by firing a late third for a hungrier, hotter Flamengo side.
Here’s how SunSport’s IAN TUCKEY rated Maresca’s mediocre side.
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Robert Sanchez – 5
Had just two first-half saves to make, both routine, but intervened a few times with kicked clearances.
Came alive on the hour when Flamengo frontman Gonzalo Plata did just the same himself – flashing a fierce shot that the Spaniard flung upwards to tip over.
GettyPedro Neto did everything right to slip his breakthrough goal[/caption]
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But almost immediately he was stranded at the backpost as Henrique arrived to tuck home.
Then watched on helpless three minutes later as Danilo flashed Flamengo in front from almost the same position.
ReutersRobert Sanchez saw Marc Cucurella block from Leo Pereira[/caption]
Could also do little with Yan’s killer third goal, but then again he was never really a dominating presence at any stage of this group clash.
Malo Gusto – 5
Pushed forward tentatively from right-back in the first period, testing keeper Rossi with a flashing long-ranger on 28 minutes.
Far more adventurous early in the second period, with dangerous overlaps.
But then faded – along with his side as whole.
Trevoh Chalobah – 6
Precision timing with a block on 26 minutes denied Flamengo striker Plata a gaping chance from 10 yards.
Then nipped in for an important clearing header – underlining how he does the important things for a centre-back right.
Not directly at fault as the Blues conceded two carbon-copy strikes, but nonetheless was part of a defence that became dishevelled in the last half hour.
EPATrevoh Chalobah initially kept Giorgian De Arrascaeta and Co at bay[/caption]
Levi Colwill – 5
Lucky to escape an early yellow card for a rash challenge.
Safe and unfussy for the first hour – upgrading that contribution dramatically with a piece of superb judgment and athleticism to head off the line shortly before break.
But like his central defensive partner Chalobah, he failed to respond convincingly to Flamengo’s purple patch in the second period.
Marc Cucurella – 5
Performed as more of an orthodox left-back than his usual up as much as down role.
Steady enough, but barely broke forward menacingly.
Nipped in to glance a 50th-minute free-kick from James wide – possibly snatching at what was a glaring opportunity rather than realising he had more time.
Reece James – 5
Functional rather than marauding on the right of Moises Caicedo in a two-man midfield anchor.
So for the England star, it was firm but not flair as he filled a tactical berth.
But delivered a magical curving free-kick across the front of the Flamengo defenders that Cucurella wastefully flicked wide.
But James soon slipped to enable Plata to scramble clear through the middle, keeper Sanchez clawing the ball away.
Replaced by Romeo Lavia on 64 minutes.
ReutersReece James got to grips with Chelsea old boy Jorginho[/caption]
Moises Caicedo – 5
Booked for a wild lunge on 12 minutes.
Showed decent energy after that, but more graft than craft as the Blues never really passed their way through and around midfield.
Chelsea need more meaningful displays from a man in such a pivotal position.
Cole Palmer – 4
Largely anonymous before the break, operating more rigidly and often deeper on the right than he’d perhaps like.
Prefers to rule by roaming than being restrained like this.
Occasional flashes in the second period before coming off for Marc Guiu on 82 minutes.
GettyCole Palmer, Chelsea’s main man in the Prem, had a quiet game[/caption]
Enzo Fernandez – 4
Threatened little in the opening 45 minutes.
But appealed desperately for a spot-kick when he wriggled into the area and tumbled under slight contact – VAR helping ref Ivan Barton stick by his no-penalty decision.
Was too much of the same story in the second half for a player who should be creating much more.
Noni Madueke replaced the Argentine six minutes from time.
Pedro Neto – 8
Busy, bustling predator – operating from the left to the centre, just behind sole out-and-out forward Delap.
Showed supreme coolness to surge beyond dozy Flamengo defending on halfway and slip home a neat winner from the edge of the box on 13 minutes.
That’s two goals from his two high-tempo games here in the US.
Booked midway through the first half for ending Wesley’s dangerous run with a tactical trip.
But soon showed fizzing feet again to snake between two players at the other end and almost carve out a clear opportunity for Delap.
Much less prominent after the break, but still the only Chelsea player to make a true impact during the match for any sustained period.
AFPPedro Neto completed a long surge by slotting Chelsea’s opener[/caption]
Liam Delap – 5
A throwback to the future – with bustling power like an old-fashioned striker. And had a right old tussle with the Brazilian defence.
Couldn’t quite get on the end of an inviting cross just before the interval. Promptly booked for a clumsy clattering as he challenged for a loose ball on mid-pitch.
Produced a mediocre pull-back early in the second period when he had the chance to sow he could be a creator.
Harried Pereira into nearly volleying an own goal.
Replaced by Jackson on 64 minutes after what overall was a fighting but fitful performance.
AFPLiam Delap had a good old battle with Leo Pereira and Co[/caption]
SUBS
Nicolas Jackson (for Delap, 64 mins) – 0
Snappy birthday – as just four minutes after coming on in attack, the Senegal ace saw red for stamping on Ayrton Lucas’s foot in mid-pitch.
It was Jackson’s 24th birthday – but he blew his cameo in shame rather than his candles in celebration, thanks to a challenge that was reckless, needless, thoughtless.
APJackson inexplicably chose to do this to Ayrton Lucas[/caption]
Romeo Lavia (for James, 64 mins) – 4
Came on just after Flamengo levelled and did little to stem the fierce change in tide.
Noni Madueke (for Fernandez, 84 mins) – 7
Slightly crazy to give him a rating for such a short time on the pitch – but read on!
Curved a half-decent free-kick high at 3-1 down, then hussled the left of the Flamengo defence a few times when he was on and off the ball.
Marc Guiu (for Palmer, 82 mins) – N/A
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