Nicolas Jackson’s Reckless Red Card Hands Flamengo a Commanding 3–1 Win Against Chelsea.
Chelsea’s Club World Cup campaign took a dramatic downturn in Philadelphia. Flamengo came from behind to beat the Premier League giants 3-1 on Friday. A disastrous cameo was seen by Nicolas Jackson, who was sent off within four minutes of entering the field. Added to that, questionable tactics from manager Enzo Maresca sealed Chelsea’s fate in their second Group D fixture.
Chelsea had taken the lead in the first half through a goal by Pedro Neto after Flamengo’s backline failed to deal with a hopeful ball forward. However, the Blues failed to build on their early advantage. With a disjointed midfield and an isolated Cole Palmer struggling to link play, Chelsea simply faltered.
Flamengo’s response after the break was emphatic. Manager Filipe Luis, a former Chelsea defender himself, made a game-changing substitution. He brought on Bruno Henrique in the 56th minute. Just six minutes later, Henrique equalised.
He shot a Gonzalo Plata header with a calm finish. In the 65th minute, former Manchester City defender Danilo capitalised on a flicked corner to volley home, handing Flamengo the lead. Moments later, Jackson entered the fray. However, he came in only to deliver a shocking studs-up tackle on Ayrton Lucas.
Expectedly, he received a straight red card, echoing his previous dismissal against Newcastle. Maresca offered no excuses post-match: “What do I think? It was a red card, nothing to say.” Former Chelsea midfielder Jon Obi Mikel called it “a stupid, stupid, stupid mistake.”
He added, “You can’t keep making mistakes like this.” Flamengo sealed the win in the 83rd minute when Wallace Yan finished off another incisive move. The Brazilian side now top the group with maximum points (six) from two matches, while Chelsea sit second with three points.
Also Read: How Did Botafogo Orchestrate One of the Biggest Upsets of the FIFA Club World Cup?
Beyond Jackson’s blunder, Maresca’s tactical decisions raised eyebrows. He removed width by benching Noni Madueke. He then deployed Reece James in midfield, and left Palmer stranded on the right. Flamengo dominated possession and showed composure.
Their midfielders Gerson and Jorginho controlled the tempo. Chelsea must now beat Esperance in their final group game to ensure progress. A second-place finish could pit them against Bayern Munich in the round of 16. That, again, is a daunting prospect for a team, that is already on the ropes.
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