Chelsea ease past Esperance de Tunis to seal Last 16 spot | OneFootball

Chelsea sealed their place in the last 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup with a composed 2–0 win over Espérance de Tunis in Philadelphia, setting up a knockout clash with Benfica.

In a match that rarely hit top gear, two first-half goals were enough to see the Blues over the line. It was a night for Enzo Fernández to shine, with the Argentine pulling the strings in midfield and grabbing both assists.

The breakthrough came in first-half stoppage time when Enzo whipped in a pinpoint free-kick for Tosin Adarabioyo to rise unmarked and head home his first goal of the tournament.

Just seconds later, the midfielder turned provider again, sliding a clever ball out wide for Liam Delap. The English forward showed sharp feet to beat his marker before slotting past Bechir Ben Said with composure.

In the second half, Enzo Maresca's side managed the game professionally. They dominated possession, kept Espérance at arm’s length, and made a string of changes to keep legs fresh.

The Tunisian side had a few moments on the counter, particularly through Yan Sasse, but lacked a clinical edge.

VAR briefly threatened to add some drama in the second half, overturning a Chelsea penalty after a lengthy check, but it was ultimately a comfortable evening for the London side.

In the dying moments, academy graduate Tyrique George added a third, firing a low strike from outside the box towards the bottom-left corner. Ben Said looked to have it covered, but the keeper let it squirm through his hands and into the net.

Chelsea now move on to the last 16, where a tougher test awaits in the form of Portuguese giants Benfica. Espérance, meanwhile, exit the competition after a spirited campaign.