Late Extra-Time Penalty Gives Chelsea First FIFA Club World Cup
Chelsea have claimed the only international silverware it was missing from its trophy case, winning the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup 2-1 after extra time against Palmeiras.
A Kai Havertz penalty-kick conversion with just three minutes left in extra time helped the Blues avoid a deciding shootout and secure the outright win. It proved the difference, giving Chelsea its first FIFA Club World Cup after it lost the 2012 final to Brazilian side Corinthians.
European champion Chelsea looked on its way to winning the title when star forward Romelu Lukaku put the English side ahead on a clinical header in the 54th minute. But a Thiago Silva hand ball in the Chelsea box gave Palmeiras the opportunity to equalize from the penalty spot just 10 minutes later.
Chelsea brought in several attacking subs and threw plenty of numbers forward in an attempt to get the go-ahead goal, but the match seemed destined for a penalty-kick shootout before the Luan hand ball in the Palmeiras box deep in extra time. Australian referee Chris Beath consulted the video monitor and ultimately pointed to the spot for the second hand-ball penalty of the match.
The ensuing Havertz conversion was a harsh ending to the match for a Palmeiras side which battled gamely, supported by a large and vocal contingent of traveling supporters that dominated the atmosphere at Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.
FIFA CLUB WORLD CHAMPIONS š¤©@ChelseaFCinUSA lift their trophy! šš„³ pic.twitter.com/96jfHlRAox
ā FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 12, 2022
“It’s a great feeling. We deserved to be here and to win the game,” said Havertz, who also scored the game-winner for Chelsea in the 2021 UEFA Champions League final.
“I was the third penalty taker. Jorgi [Jorginho] and Rom [Romelu Lukaku] were both out. I was the only one on the pitch. The other players gave me trust. They said ‘You do it, you do it.’ … I was [nervous], I have to be honest. It’s a big penalty and a big goal again. Just crazy. It was good that I kept my nerves. I’m happy.”
Chelsea won the UEFA Champions League in May 2021 and then proceeded to capture the European Super Cup in August before adding the FIFA Club World Cup. The Blues will look to defend their Champions League title when they begin Round of 16 play against French champions LOSC Lille.