João Pedro scores twice vs. boyhood team, Chelsea beats Fluminense 2-0 to reach Club World Cup final

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — João Pedro scored twice against his boyhood team in his first start for Chelsea, leading the Blues over Fluminense 2-0 Tuesday to assure an all-European Club World Cup final.

A 23-year-old who had been at Fluminense from about age 10 until leaving for Watford in 2020, João Pedro scored in the 18th and 56th minutes and refused to celebrate either goal in a sign of respect for his former club. He joined Chelsea from Brighton on July 2.

Seeking its second world championship, Chelsea advanced to Sunday’s title match against the winner of Wednesday’s game between European champion Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

European teams will win their 12th straight Club World Cup title and 17th in 18 tries, the lone exception a 2012 victory by Brazil’s Corinthians over Chelsea, which won in 2021.

Fluminense was initially awarded a first-half penalty kick but it was taken away in a video review.

Chelsea’s Moisés Caicedo injured his left ankle in second-half stoppage time.

A crowd of 70,556 was 10-15% short of capacity at MetLife Stadium, where it was 93 degrees (34 Celsius) at kickoff with humidity that made it feel like 104 (40). FIFA cut ticket prices from $473.90 to $13.40 last week.

Chelsea went ahead after German Cano lost the ball to João Pedro, and he poked it to Pedro Neto, who dribbled down a flank and crossed. An attempted clearance went to João Pedro, who curled a 20-yard shot inside the far post. João Pedro took two steps to start to celebrate, then stopped and clasped his hands.

Chelsea doubled the lead after Facundo Bernal lost the ball just outside the Blues’ penalty area to Pedro Neto, who poked the ball to Cole Palmer. He beat three challenges and dished off to Enzo Fernández, who side-footed a pass to João Pedro. He cut around Ignácio and scored off the underside of the crossbar.

Marc Cucurella cleared Hércules’ shot off the line in the 27th and French referee François Letexier awarded a penalty kick in the 35th minute when René’s free kick struck the left arm of defender Trevoh Chalobah. Letexier reversed his decision in a video review, concluding Chalobah’s arm was in a natural position.

Letexier reversing his PK decision at the recommendation of Colombian video assistant referee Nicolas Gallo.

Chelsea has earned $88,435,000 to $113,815,000 for reaching the final, the amount depending on a participation fee FIFA has not disclosed.

“When I was young, I didn’t have nothing, They gave everything to me.” — João Pedro on Fluminense.

“We depart with our heads held high.” — Fluminense coach Renato Gaúcho.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Fluminense's Thiago Silva heads the ball during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between Fluminense and Chelsea in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Chelsea's Andrey Santos (17), left, and Fluminense's Agustin Canobbio (17) battle for the ball during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between Fluminense and Chelsea in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Fluminense's Keno (11) reacts after missing a shot at goal during the Club World Cup semifinal soccer match between Fluminense and Chelsea in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Chelsea's Joao Pedro reacts after scoring a goal against Fluminense during the second half of a Club World Cup semifinal soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Chelsea's Joao Pedro celebrates with Enzo Fernandez, right, and Trevoh Chalobah, left, after scoring a goal against Fluminense during the second half of a Club World Cup semifinal soccer match in East Rutherford, N.J., Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

A Ukrainian drone strike killed one person and wounded three others in the Russian city of Voronezh, local officials said Sunday.

A young woman died overnight in a hospital intensive care unit after debris from a drone fell on a house during the attack on Saturday, regional Gov. Alexander Gusev said on Telegram.

Three other people were wounded and more than 10 apartment buildings, private houses and a high school were damaged, he said, adding that air defenses shot down 17 drones over Voronezh. The city is home to just over 1 million people and lies some 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

The attack came the day after Russia bombarded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles overnight into Friday, killing at least four people in the capital Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials.

For only the second time in the nearly four-year war, Russia used a powerful new hypersonic missile that struck western Ukraine in a clear warning to Kyiv and NATO.

The intense barrage and the launch of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile followed reports of major progress in talks between Ukraine and its allies on how to defend the country from further aggression by Moscow if a U.S.-led peace deal is struck.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday in his nightly address that Ukrainian negotiators “continue to communicate with the American side.”

Chief negotiator Rustem Umerov was in contact with U.S. partners Saturday, he said.

Separately, Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia targeted Ukraine with 154 drones overnight into Sunday and 125 were shot down.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

This photo provided by the Ukrainian Security Service on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, shows a fragment believed to be a part of a Russian Oreshnik intermediate range hypersonic ballistic missile that hit the Lviv region. (Ukrainian Security Service via AP)

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, second left, listens to British Defense Secretary John Healey during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Danylo Antoniuk)