Super Eagles-Eligible Star Scores as Chelsea Beat Esperance to Reach Club World Cup Last 16
Wins Player of the Match Award
Tosin Adarabioyo, who is still eligible to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, scored the opening goal as Chelsea defeated Esperance 3-0 to qualify for the last 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup.
The tall centre-back, born in England to Nigerian parents, headed home in first-half stoppage time to give Chelsea the lead in a match played in hot and humid conditions in Philadelphia. His international future remains a talking point, as he can still choose between Nigeria and England.
Adarabioyo joined Chelsea from Fulham last summer and has impressed in his first season at Stamford Bridge. His strong form continued in this match, helping Chelsea bounce back from their 3-1 loss to Flamengo last Friday.
Enzo Fernandez assisted Adarabioyo’s goal with a floated free-kick into the box, which the defender met with a well-placed header into the bottom corner.
Just two minutes later, Fernandez set up another goal, this time for new signing Liam Delap. The young striker controlled the ball with his back to goal, turned sharply, and fired low into the net for his first goal for the club.
Chelsea remained in control during the second half despite the hot weather, with the temperature still near 30°C late into the evening. Josh Acheampong nearly scored earlier in the game, and Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos also made an appearance, coming close to winning a penalty which was later overturned by VAR.
The third goal came deep into added time when Tyrique George, another young substitute, scored with a shot that Esperance goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said failed to stop.
The result saw Chelsea finish second in Group D behind Flamengo, while Esperance were eliminated from the competition.
Chelsea will now face Benfica in the round of 16 on Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina, their first meeting since the 2013 Europa League final, which Chelsea won. The winner of that match will go on to face either Palmeiras or Botafogo of Brazil in the quarter-finals.
For Adarabioyo, his performance also won him the player of the match award and adds to growing calls for Nigeria to try and convince him to commit his international future to the Super Eagles.
Another Super Eagles of Nigeria eligible player Onuche Ogbelu was in action for Tunisia’s Esperance, putting in a decent performance against a compact Chelsea team.
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