Chelsea Dominate ES Tunis to Secure Knockout Berth
If anyone expected a walkover, they hadn’t seen ES Tunis play. Chelsea put three past the Tunisian champions on a sweaty night in Philadelphia, but their manager Enzo Maresca made it clear—this wasn’t some straightforward procession to the last eight of the Club World Cup. "They play good football," he noted, quick to push back on the idea of an easy ride. "They're a tough team with very good players."
This wasn’t just lip service. Maresca’s Blues had to juggle their lineup thanks to Nicolas Jackson’s suspension for the tie. That pushed young Liam Delap into the spotlight, as he assumed the role of main striker. Delap, used sparingly through the regular season, faced high expectations from fans and coaching staff alike. Behind him, eyes were on Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos, set for his tournament debut—the kind of match that could either make a star or expose nerves.
From kickoff, Chelsea turned up the heat, pressing and forcing ES Tunis into mistakes. Early nerves gave way to control, and before the first half was over, the Blues had two goals on the board, showing that squad rotation wasn’t going to slow their rhythm. The bench roared as Santos finally took to the pitch in the second half, offering a glimpse of what the club hopes is a long, successful career in blue.
Maresca Calls for Focus Despite Scoreline
With a 3-0 scoreline flattering but deserved, Maresca’s social media messages before the game made sense. "Raising the intensity," he wrote, drilling into his players that there are no easy rides on this type of stage. Even with top billing and deep pockets, the gap between Chelsea and ambitious opposition isn’t as wide as some headlines suggest. ES Tunis, for their part, kept the tempo high and forced Chelsea to avoid any hint of complacency.
The result confirmed Chelsea’s advance from Group D, setting up further battles as the Club World Cup rolls on. Local fans at Lincoln Financial Field enjoyed a taste of European and African football clashing in prime time. And with Flamengo also vying for group honors, every match has a bit of knockout urgency. For Chelsea, the win is a statement—but it’s Maresca’s warning about underestimating anyone that will stick with fans and players alike as the tournament heats up.