Chelsea are world champions for the first time in their history. Thomas Tuchel’s team did it the hard way in Abu Dhabi, requiring a 117th-minute penalty from Kai Havertz to earn the only remaining major title to have eluded them.
When the dust settles Tuchel will no doubt find some flaws in how his team performed both in attack in defence but this was ultimately a night when the performance mattered for little, the result everything as owner Roman Abramovich joined his players on the pitch immediately after full time to take part in the celebrations.
Romelu Lukaku had put the European champions in front ten minutes into the second half but Palmeiras had levelled from the spot after a Thiago Silva handball., Raphael Veiga converting calmly. On an evening of average quality at Mohammed Bin Zayed stadium, the game seemed destined for a shootout but then Cesar Azpilicueta’s shot with four minutes to go was handled by Luan and after a lengthy VAR check the Australian referee Chris Beath pointed to the spot.
