Flamengo defeats Chelsea 3-1 in a Group D match at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday to advance to the FIFA Club World Cup knockout stage. Pedro Neto scored in the 13th minute after a midfield turnover, beating Flamengo custodian Agustin Rossi with a left-footed strike.
Flamengo began the second half with unrelenting offensive after trailing 1-0. Bruno Henrique scored expertly in the 62nd minute after Gonzalo Plata headed the ball into his path.
Flamengo scored again three minutes later from a well-executed corner. In the 65th minute, Henrique passed to Danilo, who scored from close range to give Flamengo a 2-1 lead. In the 68th minute, Nicolas Jackson was sent off, leaving Chelsea a man down for the rest of the encounter.
Flamengo’s Wallace Yan scored a third goal in the 83rd minute, assisted by the energetic Plata, to seal the win and keep Flamengo unblemished in the tournament. Chelsea must win against ES Tunis on Tuesday to advance to the knockout stage. ES Tunis’s 1-0 win over LAFC strengthened their chances.
On Friday, Benfica defeated semi-professional Auckland City 6-0 in Group C. After a halftime rain delay, Leandro Barreiro scored twice in the 76th and 78th minutes.
