Chelsea Football Club secured a hard-fought victory against Palmeiras in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final, booking their spot in the semi-final. The match, held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, saw Chelsea edge out the Brazilian side 2-1 thanks to a late deflection.

The first half saw Chelsea take the lead with a goal from Cole Palmer in the 16th minute. Palmer, who had faced some criticism from fans, proved his worth by taking a pass from Trevoh Chalobah and dribbling to a shooting position before scoring with a left-footed strike.

Palmeiras, however, did not back down. Soon-to-be Chelsea forward Estevao leveled the score in the 53rd minute, adding intrigue to the contest. The game remained a tense affair until late in the second half. A shot from Chelsea's Malo Gusto deflected off Palmeiras' Richard Rios and Agustin Giay, sending the ball past goalkeeper Weverton for an own goal.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged the difficulty of the match, stating, "It has been a tough game, as we expected". He also expressed his satisfaction with the win and Estevao's goal.

With this victory, Chelsea advances to the semi-finals, where they will face another Brazilian side, Fluminense. Fluminense had earlier defeated Al Hilal 2-1. The semi-final match is scheduled for Tuesday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Chelsea's progress in the Club World Cup demonstrates their resilience and determination to compete for the title.