The Blues defeated Esperance Tunis 3-0 on Tuesday (24.06.25) in Philadelphia - placing Chelsea in second place in Group D and allowing the club to progress to the knockout stage.

After a slow start, Tosin Adarabioyo got one past Tunis goalkeeper Ben Said in the first half’s extra time, before Liam Delap - who moved to the club from Ipswich before the tournament - scored his first goal for the Blues in his debut appearance a couple of minutes later.

Just before the game ended, Tyrique George cemented Chelsea’s victory after the team was awarded a penalty for handball overturned by VAR.

Reflecting on the match, Delap told Chelseafc.com: “Obviously it is a really happy feeling and hopefully it is the first of many.

"I spoke to [manager] Enzo [Fernandez] and he told me when he gets the ball to just run. It was a great pass and luckily it went in.

“I love playing football and to play for such a good team is a great feeling. We had to win to get through and we are all happy we are into the next stage.”

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca added “it was important to bounce back and win” following the club’s 3-1 defeat to Flamengo, and shared his hopes for getting through to the last eight.

He said after the match: “It was important to bounce back and win. Now we can start to think about the next one.

“It was very important to be patient and then when we found the goal it became a bit more open. We are happy for all the players, especially for the ones who have gone a long time without minutes.

“From 32 teams, now we are in the last 16. Hopefully we can go to the last eight.”

Chelsea are set to face Benfica on Saturday (28.06.25), and Maresca knows the Blues will have their work cut out for them when they come up against the Portuguese giants.

He said: “Benfica is a top club, with a top manager and top players. It will be tough but we are in the 16 from 32 and we hope to be in the last eight.”