Al-Hilal vs Chelsea: Player ratings and analysis as Romelu Lukaku sends Chelsea to Club World Cup final

Al-Hilal 0-1 Chelsea (Lukaku ’32)

Chelsea have a chance to right the wrongs of 2012 after they reached the Club World Cup final for the second time in their history.

Just one player remains from Chelsea’s 2012 defeat to Corinthians but, now as club captain,

Cesar Azpilicueta will no doubt have reminded his teammates of the rarity of the opportunity before them.

The first step towards the trophy was successfully navigated as the European Champions overcame Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in the semi-final thanks to a solitary goal from Romelu Lukaku.

For Thomas Tuchel, who was forced to watch from home having tested positive for Covid-19, there will be concern about the Jekyll and Hyde nature of his side’s performance in the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.

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Chelsea, having narrowly defeated Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup last weekend, dominated the ball in the early stages and it appeared their biggest opponent was the offside flag with Lukaku proving particularly guilty in that regard.

Just after the half-hour mark, it was the Belgian who opened the scoring with a chance presented to him on a plate. Kai Havertz stumbled on his way into the box from the left wing but managed to cut back and float a cross into the box.

With just Lukaku inside the area, Al-Hilal defender

Yasser Al-Shahrani had to head anywhere but to the Chelsea striker. He failed the task, nodding it to the unmarked Lukaku who could hardly miss from within the six-yard box.

Yet the second half was a different story as the Saudi Arabian side grew into the game.

When is the Club World Cup final?

• Match: Chelsea vs Palmeiras
• Date: Saturday 12 February
• Kick-off: 4.30pm (GMT)

In the 62nd minute, a smart stop from

Kepa Arrizabalaga prevented Moussa Marega from equalising. Five minutes later and the Spaniard was again called into action as he tipped Mohamed Kanno’s long-range curled effort over the bar.

With Al-Hilal on top, Mason Mount was introduced in an attempt to wrestle back control of the ball and while Chelsea never regained the supremacy of the first half, they were able to see out a nervy final 20 minutes without conceding.

The London side will need to recapture the form of the first half if they do not want history to repeat itself and suffer a defeat to a Brazilian side in the final.

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Chelsea player Ratings

• Arrizabalaga – 8
• Rüdiger – 6
• Thiago Silva – 6
• Christensen – 6
• Azpilicueta – 7
• Kovacic – 5
• Jorginho – 6
• Alonso – 6
• Havertz – 8
• Ziyech – 8
• Lukaku – 7

Substitutes

• Kante – 6
• Mount – 6
• Sarr – N/A

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