Chelsea vs Esperance live updates: Club World Cup 2025 game latest score and goal alerts – The New York Times

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Chelsea and Esperance meet in a winner-takes-all clash at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field in Group D at the 2025 Club World Cup today.
The teams are level on points with a win and a defeat in their opening two matches, but it is the Premier League side who have the superior goal difference. That means that a draw will be enough for Chelsea to advance to the last 16 while only a victory will do for Esperance.
Having beaten both of these teams, Flamengo — who face the eliminated LAFC tonight — have already confirmed top spot in Group D.
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Yassine Meriah has been a key defensive leader for Esperance so far in the tournament and his importance was visible on that latest Chelsea attack.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's header almost snuck in at the far post but Meriah’s diving clearance saved Esperance from potentially being down 1-0.
Could look back on that moment as a gamechanging one for sure.
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27' Esperance 0-0 Chelsea
Only one of these two teams actually needs to win this game to progress, of course. But huge credit to Esperance for the energy and pressure they’re directing towards Chelsea to far.
They will need to keep these levels up for another 65 minutes too, alongside the potential to start getting desperate.
Enzo Fernandez was visibly upset that nobody made a run into the far post behind him as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s cross sailed harmlessly over his head.
One thing to keep an eye on given how many of the Chelsea players on the pitch are not part of Enzo Maresca’s usual first-choice XI.
25' Esperance 0-0 Chelsea
Benoit Badiashile has been penalised for a handful of fouls now, usually from being overly physical.
Esperance are playing up to it at times, but it feels like a bit of an accident waiting to happen in the wrong areas for Chelsea, if he doesn’t get a grip of getting a grip on his attackers.
24' Esperance 0-0 Chelsea
We have a little break now as Esperance goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said gets some treatment. It’s not clear why, but the reserve goalkeepers get warming up too.
It might be that break will double up as the drinks break too. We will see.
The good news is Ben Said looks fine to continue.
21' Esperance 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea are starting to knock on the door now. They work the ball to Delap and his header is cleared away.
They are doing a great job of getting the support in the box for these crosses — if anything, it’s the crossing quality that has let Chelsea down so far.
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The commentator on DAZN’s U.S. feed thinks that the hard foul on Noni Madueke should be assessed for a yellow card — and VAR should review it for a red.
It’s not.
18' Esperance 0-0 Chelsea
A foul down the Chelsea left from Benali gives the Premier League side another set-piece opportunity. Dewsbury-Hall and Enzo Fernandez are behind it, the latter firing in the inswinger that needs Ben Said to come out and punch clear.
This game is threatening to have a lot of opportunities on goal but so far, it’s also flattering to deceive.
This match has already settled into a predictable early pattern, with Chelsea pinning Esperance back into their low block in possession and the Tunisians looking to counter at speed when they win the ball back.
Enzo Maresca’s team have looked a little shaky in a couple of those transition situations.
14' Esperance 0-0 Chelsea
It’s going to be intriguing to see how Liam Delap settles into life at Chelsea next season.
Here he gets a bit of space outside the box in a central area, and fires a sharp, low shot that forces the save from Ben Said — a save you would expect him to make.
Inspired by such intent, Esperance retaliate with Yan Sasse who goes for the spectacular.
His effort from range sails miles over the bar, but I appreciate the idea and ambition.
11' Esperance 0-0 Chelsea
A lot of the troubles for Chelsea are coming from midfield, where they will have to be careful they are not overloaded if Nkunku pushes on to support Delap.
Fun start to the game so far and already a signal from Chelsea that Dewsbury-Hall’s corners could prove a productive source of attacking chances.
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Esperance have done well to start but are just a bit nervy in the final third with their passing. Definitely finding the open players at times and now just need to connect at the key moments. Sasse seems to be pulling the strings with Belaili out suspended.
Chelsea are very fortunate that Esperance couldn’t even muster a shot on goal in those dangerous breakaway opportunities.
It’s illustrative of the difference in quality between these teams that Chelsea’s defenders are able to recover quickly despite some bad opening mistakes, due to the lack of pace from Esperance’s forwards.
6' Esperance 0-0 Chelsea
I have to say, it’s not quite as comfortable at the back though for the Premier League side. There are spaces, and Esperance look keen to take advantage.
Mokwana has already threatened to get in behind but just didn’t have the pace to work room for a shot on goal.
Chelsea’s covering defence much more effective than the initial spaces it is currently leaving.
4' Esperance 0-0 Chelsea
Comfortable start for Chelsea, who swiftly earn a corner. The outswinger arrives at Badiashile and his header flies just wide of the far post with Delap threatening to poke it home.
Chelsea’s tactical alignment to start this game is interesting. Gusto is inverting into midfield from left-back, Acheampong is at right-back, Madueke is on the left wing, Dewsbury-Hall is on the right, with Fernandez and Nkunku both operating behind Delap.
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1' Esperance 0-0 Chelsea
Chelsea get us going here at Lincoln Financial Field. Can this Enzo Maresca XI get the job done in an efficient manner? Remember, they only need a draw to qualify.
Esperance need better than that. Let’s go…
We’re just about ready here from Lincoln Financial Field between Chelsea-Esperance.
Good crowd tonight and definitely a lot of noise, especially from the Esperance contingent. Philadelphia will certainly add plenty to their total attendance for the tournament, which stood at 149,237 through four matches coming into tonight.
Even by summer standards in the U.S., this is a crushing heat wave: 96F (34C) at 9 p.m. kick-off is stunning for that region of the country.
The temperature will drop slightly as the night goes on, but the heat will still no doubt be a factor tonight.

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