By 
Cole Palmer inspired a sensational Chelsea performance as they defeated European champions Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 to claim the first title of the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup.
The England international scored twice and provided a stunning assist for new signing João Pedro at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where 81,118 fans – the tournament’s largest crowd – witnessed the Blues become world champions.
According the BBC, Palmer opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a composed low shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma after Malo Gusto broke in behind Nuno Mendes.
Read more: Chelsea make history with 4-1 comeback win over Real Betis in Conference League final
Just eight minutes later, Palmer doubled Chelsea’s lead with a clever dummy and an identical finish from the edge of the box.
Before the break, Palmer capped his display with a defence-splitting pass to João Pedro, who lobbed Donnarumma to make it 3-0, stunning a PSG side Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca had earlier called “the best in the world.”
PSG responded in the second half, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé forcing fine saves from Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.
Substitute Liam Delap also tested Donnarumma, but PSG’s missed chances in the first half, notably by João Neves and Désiré Doué, left them with too much to do.
The Parisians’ night worsened in the 85th minute when Neves was sent off after a VAR review showed him pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair.
Post-match tensions flared when PSG manager Luis Enrique appeared to slap João Pedro during an on-pitch altercation. Unused substitute Presnel Kimpembe intervened to separate the pair. Enrique later claimed he was trying to defuse a fight, saying: “It was a result of the pressure at the end of the match.”
Among the spectators was U.S. President Donald Trump, who watched from the stands alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino as Chelsea sealed their title and took home earnings estimated at £90 million.
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