English side, Chelsea, suffered a humiliating 3-1 defeat in the hands of Brazilian side, Flamengo, at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 as Senegalese forward, Nicolas Jackson, was shown a straight red card only four minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Manager, Enzo Maresca’s Blues looked like they were in charge of the showdown after Pedro Neto netted the opening goal in the first half, however, substitute Bruno Henrique’s second-half leveller ignited an implosion.
The Uefa Europa Conference League 2024/25 Champions fell behind a little while after the leveller when former Manchester City defender Danilo capitalised on more poor defending in the 65th minute, and Jackson bagged his red card just three minutes later as he recklessly launched his studs on Ayrton Lucas’ shin.
The Senegal international’s red card is coming only six (6) weeks after he was sent off in against Newcastle in the Premier League; Jackson is currently fighting for his position with new addition, Liam Delap, who impressed on his first start.
Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town; the Tractor Boys bagged relegation to the English second tier, Championship, after finishing 19th on the Premier League 2024/25 table.
The Blues’ hopes of making a comeback into the game was completely shattered when Wallace Yan, another Flamengo substitute, added the Brazilian side’s third goal in the 83rd minute to ignite more wild celebrations from the noisy Flamengo fans at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Following Chelsea’s win over LAFC in the opener which recorded a low Stadium attendance, the match against Flamengo amassed an official attendance of 54,019 at the 67,594-capacity stadium.
Chelsea let themselves down by their defending in the second period as Henrique was left free to turn home Gonzalo Plata’s header across goal before Danilo added the quick-fire second following more pathetic marking at a corner.
The outcome placed Flamengo three (3) points clear of Chelsea, who are second-placed, in Group D, this means the Blues still have work to do to scale through for the knockout stages.
Result
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 – Friday 20 June, 2025 |
| PSG 0-1 Botafogo FR |
| Benfica 6-0 Auckland City |
| Flamengo 3-1 Chelsea |
| Los Angeles FC 0-1 Esperance |
Following his red card, Nicolas Jackson apologized on Instagram: “I want to say sorry. To the club, the staff, my teammates, and all the fans watching, I let you down.
“Another red card… And honestly, I’m so angry at myself. I work hard every day to help the team not to put us in this kind of situation.
“I still don’t fully understand how it happened. But one thing is clear: it wasn’t intentional. Just a moment in football that went the wrong way.
“No excuses. I take full responsibility. I’ll reflect, I’ll grow, and I’ll come back stronger for the badge and for everyone who believes in me.
“Sorry. Sorry, Sorry.”
Expressing his displeasure at Jackson, former Super Eagles and Nigeria midfielder, John Obi Mikel, said: “Unbelievable.
“”I don’t know what’s going through his head. You come into the game, you’re 2-1 down, your team needs you, and you do that.
“He did it in the important Premier League game against Newcastle, when we needed to win to qualify for the Champions League places, and he has done it again.
“You can’t keep making mistakes.
“I don’t care what his frustration is Chelsea is a massive football club and it’s about competition.
“Delap is coming to the club and he is going to be your competition, you have to embrace it.
“If you are a big player, you embrace it.”
