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Club World Cup: PSG stumble at final hurdle

On a warm afternoon in New Jersey, Paris Saint-Germain lost in the final of the Club World Cup thanks to three first half goals from Chelsea.
E. DEVIN
Published on 07/13/2025 at 21:00
2-minute read
Paris Saint-Germain were humbled by Chelsea in Sunday's Club World Cup final, losing 3-0.

On a warm afternoon in New Jersey, Paris Saint-Germain lost in the final of the Club World Cup thanks to three first half goals from Chelsea. Read our recap of the match:

A fast chelsea start does for PSG

Without Willian Pacho -- the Ecuador international was suspended after being sent off in the semifinal against Bayern Munich -- Luis Enrique once again turned to Lucas Beraldo in defence. After a strong display against Real Madrid in the semifinals, he was quickly under the cosh as the English side pushed to catch out he and Nuno Mendes. With just eight minutes on the clock, Cole Palmer cut inside but his viciously-struck effort was just wide of the goal.

It was only a postponement of the inevitable, however. Désiré Doué had a decent effort from range saved by Robert Sánchez, but after some fine work by Malo Gusto, the for Lyon player cut back for Palmer, who pounced on the ball to slot it past Gianluigi Donnarumma in the PSG goal (22'). Eight minutes later, it was Palmer again for Chelsea, in a near-carbon copy of his first goal. This time, the Englishman danced into the centre of the area with the ball at his feet before finding the bottom corner past Donnarumma. Three minutes before the break, Palmer would turn provider, playing in João Pedro with a defence-splitting pass, and the Blues' newest acquisition found the net, beating Donnarumma in a close-range one-on-one.

A response, but no goals in the second half

In first half stoppage time, PSG were close indeed to pulling one back, but Sánchez did well to keep out Doué on the counter, allowing Chelsea to preserve what would be a 3-0 halftime lead. On the other side of the break, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had a good effort after getting forward on the left, but again Sánchez (six saves) saved his side's blushes. He would do the same against Ousmane Dembélé on 52 minutes, and with the Spaniard on top form, PSG would come no closer. 

Indeed, Donnarumma would have to be sharp to keep out Chelsea substitute Liam Delap and as a final bit of ignominy, João Neves was sent off five minutes from time for pulling Marc Cucurella's hair, ending any hope of the French champions pulling off an upset. Left to lick their wounds, PSG's next confirmed match is the UEFA Super Cup against another London club, Tottenham Hotspur, on August 13.   

 

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