Key events
22 min Flamengo string together some nice passes but the move breaks down when Plata places a wayward ball to the left.
21 min Cucurella has plenty of space out on the left but Caicedo loses the ball in midfield as Flamengo work it around at the back.
20 min Flamengo supporters remain in good voice as Caicedo is fouled in midfield.
16 min Plata’s cross from the right finds Sánchez, with Flamego lacking a little in composure when they enter the final third.
GOAL! Flamengo 0-1 Chelsea (Neto 13)
Flamengo have a free-kick out on the left but the dinked ball in doesn’t cause any problems. Instead comes some comical defending on the halfway line by the Brazilian side, a series of ricochets landing favourably for Neto.
He has plenty of space in front of him, drives into the area, and slots through with a small deflection off Rossi. That’s two in two for the winger.
11 min Caicedo lands in the book after bringing down Jorginho, the Chelsea old boy.
10 min Gerson makes a nice run down the right and plays a reverse-ball to De Arrascaeta, drifting into the area, but the Flamengo No 10’s pass across goal finds Sánchez.
9 min Flamengo are looking lively, their passes cutting through a Chelsea side yet to properly get going.
7 min The corner doesn’t cause Flamengo any bother and they have an opening on the left-hand side, with Luiz Araújo skipping into the Chelsea area – but Caicedo intervenes in time.
6 min Liam Delap breaks free on the right side of the Flamengo area but just delays his shot a touch – he does let fly, forcing Rossi to palm the ball away for a corner.
4 min Sánchez provides two wayward kicks from the back to land Chelsea in trouble but a toe-punt from De Arrascaeta, from outside the area, flies high.
2 min There are plenty of balloons on the pitch, making this a slightly awkward viewing experience.
1 min Levi Colwill is quick to bring down Flamengo’s Gerson and leave him in a bit of bother.
Peeeep!
Chelsea are in white today, and it doesn’t appear to be a packed house.
The players are doing their individual walk-ons, with an overexcited stadium announcer doing his thing. ENZOOOO FERNÁNDEZ!
I was a little thrown by the presence of Matheus Cunha on Flamengo’s bench. No, it’s not that one. And we’ve got two former Manchester United players on the DAZN coverage in Kléberson and John Obi Mikel. Sort of.
“I just don’t like the smelly planes. That’s why I wear a mask. When I travel I don’t like the smells so that’s why I wear them.”
Alas, not a nod from Cole Palmer to the opening scene of The Dark Knight Rises.
The teams
Jorginho, key in helping Chelsea get here – he was in the middle of the park when they won the Champions League – starts for Flamengo. They’re managed by the former Blues left-back Filipe Luís.
Flamengo: Rossi, Wesley, Danilo, Pereira, Lucas, Erick, Jorginho, De Arrascaeta, Gerson, Araújo, Plata
Subs: Cunha, Varela, Ortiz, João Victor, Alex Sandro, Viña, Pedro, Evertton Araujo, Allan, Matheus Gonçalves, Cebolinha, Juninho, Bruno Henrique, Michael, Wallace Yan
Chelsea: Sánchez, James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernández, Palmer, Neto, Gusto, Delap
Subs: Jørgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Badiashile, Sarr, Anselmino, Essugo, Lavia, Andrey Santos, Dewsbury-Hall, Madueke, George, Nkunku, Jackson, Guiu
Preamble
Hello, hello, hello and welcome to another day at this somewhat dystopian tournament, one of empty seats, unbearable heat and Donald Trump acting like Donald Trump. So as we approach the end of the universe, here’s Flamengo versus Chelsea!
The 2022 Copa Libertadores champions meet the 2021 Champions League winners, both sides triumphing 2-0 in their opening contests. Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández were the goalscorers for Chelsea against Los Angeles FC though it was Liam Delap’s assist that made the headline – he make his first start for the club today. Kick-off’s at 7pm BST, 2pm EDT. It’s absolutely roasting in Philadelphia.
