Pedro's Stunning Double Puts Chelsea in Club World Cup Final

JOAO PEDRO made it look easy - but the hard part now begins for Chelsea as they prepare for the Club World Cup final.

A blistering double from new striker Pedro in obscene temperatures was enough to put the fourth best Premier League side in sight of the trophy and a £97million windfall.

6 Joao Pedro scored two stunning goals on his first Chelsea start Credit: Getty

6 He refused to celebrate against his former side Credit: Getty

6 Marc Cucurella cleared the ball off the line with the score 1-0 Credit: AP

6 Chelsea escaped a penalty after the ref initially penalised Trevoh Chalobah for handball Credit: Reuters

However, things are going to get really sticky now in sweltering New Jersey because to get their hands on the jackpot they must overcome either European champions Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid .

While Chelsea have done well to get so far in this glorified summer kickabout, the draw has been kind to them.

They have swerved the biggest teams in Europe , PSG, Real Madrid , Bayern Munich , Juventus , Inter Milan .

Instead, it’s been Club Tunis, Benfica , Palmeiras and then a Fluminense side with a 40-year-old centre half and a keeper w* is 44.

No wonder the old boy couldn’t quite stretch his creaking bones to meet the wickedly curling s*t and the cannonball pile driver from Stamford Bridge’s new hero which settled the score.

Not that we s*uld take anything away from Pedro w* lived up to his billing on his first start for Chelsea in an *ur-long display that suggests he is hitting the ground running.

But facing the newly crowned winners of the Champions League or the royalty of world football from Spain will be a bit different to seeing off a team from Brazil w* only just avoided relegation last season.

SOME of the world's biggest clubs are in action at this summer's Club World Cup in the United States!

Chelsea are keeping Premier League *pes alive in the big tournament which is on until the final at New Jersey's Metlife Stadium July 13.

T*ugh Manchester City have been knocked out by Saudi Pro side Al-Hilal after losing in a 4-3 thriller.

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There have been wobbles all the way despite Chelsea being favourites in their games throug*ut.

And this was no exception. A lucky escape on a penalty s*ut and a s*t cleared off the line before Pedro’s second goal sealed victory.

But Chelsea are there and now stand to pick up a handy £81.9m for getting to the final even if that ends in ultimate defeat.

Not a bad little earner even if the players are knackered and will get only a couple of weeks off before they must start preparing for the looming Premier League season again.

The money Chelsea have spent bringing in £60m Pedro, £30m Liam Delap and £48.5m Jamie Gittens is already close to being repaid.

Boss Enzo Maresca has taken this competition seriously like he does most things in life.

For players like Cole Palmer , born and raised in wet and soggy Manchester , the summer heat must be a serious c*re, bordering on unhealthy.

He was one of only three English players in the starting XI - w* were given a boxing-themed introduction by veteran announcer Michael Buffer - for a game kicking off in mid-afternoon where it was touching 38 degrees in the sun.

6

It’ll be much the same this time next year when the real World Cup Final is staged here.

Even so, the Premier League side took control of the game early on, obviously looking to get the game wrapped up before grown men started melting.

An attack down the left orchestrated by Pedro Neto had Fluminense on the back foot.

The Portuguese winger has hit the heights consistently this tournament - more so than any other Chelsea player with goals and *ists.

6 Chelsea and Fluminense players were given an incredible pre-match introduction by Michael Buffer Credit: DAZN

His ball into the box was poor t*ugh and easily met by defender Thiago Santos . But instead of clearing the danger the p* out of the area was low and straight to Chelsea’s dangerous new attacker.

The way Pedro picked his spot with a devilishly curling right-foot s*t underlined *w at *me he feels just a week after signing.

The muted celebration symbolised what Fluminense means to Pedro, w* started his career there.

But yet again with the game in the palms of their hands, Chelsea went all soft.

Just three minutes after taking the lead, defender Marc Cucurella was called upon to *ok a s*t from Hercules off the line.

And with nine minutes of the first half remaining their luck held again with a penalty call.

French ref Francois Letexier pointed to the spot when Trevoh Chalobah handled a glancing header from Santos - the centre back involved in the first goal.

VAR has been very much in the background for Chelsea this tournament and the first intervention by the spy in the sky saved their skins.

The ref reviewed his decision on the pitchside monitor and U-turned after replays s*wed Chalobah keeping his left hand in a natural position close to his side as the ball cannoned off him.

And from a scruffy breakout from defence Pedro sealed it for Chelsea when he was put clear through on the left by Enzo Fernandez.

The Brazilian cut inside and buried a stunning rising s*t in off the underside of the bar on 56 minutes before being taken off on the *ur mark.