Palmer double fires Chelsea past PSG to Club World Cup glory
The English attacking midfielder scored twice and provided an assist for Joao Pedro in a devastating display in the revamped tournament's decider that left the European and French champions, who finished with 10 men, shell-shocked before the break.
Chelsea struck first in the 22nd minute when PSG fullback Nuno Mendes gifted possession to Malo Gusto. While his initial effort was blocked by Mendes, Gusto collected the rebound and found Palmer unmarked in the middle and the midfielder made no mistake, slotting a tidy finish just inside the left post.
Palmer doubled the lead after the 30th-minute cooling break with a goal of sublime quality. Latching onto a precise through ball from Levi Colwill, he cut inside before faking a pass to dummy a defender and firing into the bottom-left corner.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Arsenal seal divisive move for Chelsea winger Madueke
A petition labelled 'No to Madueke' has attracted more than 5,000 signatures from Arsenal fans. Arsenal sealed their controversial signing of Chelsea forward Noni Madueke in a deal worth a reported £48 million ($65 million) on Friday. Photo: Glyn KIRK / AFP Arsenal sealed their controversial signing of Chelsea forward Noni Madueke in a deal worth a reported £48 million ($65 million) on Friday. Madueke agreed a five-year contract with the Gunners as he moved to the Emirates Stadium despite complaints from Arsenal fans. ALSO READ: Chelsea boss Maresca hails 'great triumph' in winning Club World Cup The 23-year-old will provide competition for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the flanks in Mikel Arteta's side. Madueke's switch across London, which could eventually exceed £52 million with performance-related add-ons, has sparked stinging criticism from supporters who believe he is not worth the price tag. A petition labelled 'No to Madueke' has attracted more than 5,000 signatures from Arsenal fans, while murals outside the Emirates were vandalised with 'Arteta out' slogans. Madueke left Chelsea's Club World Cup winning campaign in the United States last Friday to undergo his medical at Arsenal and put the finishing touches to the deal. 'Noni is an exciting and powerful young player, with his performances and numbers in recent seasons being of consistently high quality. He is one of the most talented wide forward players in the Premier League,' Arteta said. 'At just 23, Noni already brings experience of club and international football, and he knows the Premier League very well. Having seen the quality of Noni's performances up close in recent seasons, we're really excited he is joining us. 'Noni joins our group with familiar England teammates and other players he knows. He will be made to feel at home straight away. His arrival will really improve our squad. We're all thrilled to have him here.' – 'Great to go back home' – Madueke, who raised in north London added: 'I'm really happy and really proud, so it's a great moment for me. It's great to go back home, be with my mum, my dad. I know my mum misses me in the house! 'It's already a great team with a clear identity and I can't wait to bring my style to the team and try and help the boys as much as possible to take that next step. 'I want to win all the competitions we're in. I feel like we're definitely capable of doing that.' Madueke scored 11 times for Chelsea in all competitions last season, taking his overall tally to 20 in 90 appearances in all competitions for the Blues. He helped Chelsea qualify for the Champions League and win the UEFA Conference League last term, as well as making his first England appearances. Madueke, who joined Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven for £30 million in 2023, is the latest close-season signing by Arsenal after the arrivals of midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. ALSO READ: Liverpool eye blockbuster bid for Newcastle's Isak: reports He takes Arsenal's spending so far to around £120 million, with Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera's £13 million move expected to be finalised shortly. Arsenal also remain hopeful of signing Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres. Madueke will join up with his new Arsenal team-mates in early August after their pre-season tour of Singapore and Hong Kong.
The Star
15 hours ago
- The Star
Bafana Bafana international Lebogang Phiri shares his views on youth development
Staff Reporter | Published 34 minutes ago Day One of the 2025 Engen Knockout Challenge Gauteng leg kicked off today at Wits Marks Park Sports Ground, with top under-18 boys' and under-20 girls' teams beginning their journey toward provincial glory and a place in the Engen Champ of Champs. Among those in attendance was French-based Bafana Bafana midfielder and Engen Knockout Challenge graduate Lebogang Phiri, who spent the day engaging with players, watching matches, and reflecting on the impact of the tournament. 'This is not just another youth tournament, I don't think people always realise the gravity of it,' said Phiri. 'Tournaments like the Engen Knockout Challenge are where you get the next top talents and future big-name players. It's where players learn to handle pressure, build big-match temperament, and get exposed to the type of support and attention that prepares them for the next level. If a young player approaches this platform with the right mindset, it can change their career.' Reflecting further, Phiri noted that the intensity and competitiveness of the tournament also bring valuable lessons beyond the pitch. 'The pressure is high, and the expectations are real, and because of that, players learn respect, discipline, and great sportsmanship. These are qualities you don't always get from just training or league matches. This kind of environment shapes you in every way as a footballer.' As a former participant turned professional, Phiri's return to the tournament reinforces the 2025 theme 'It's Your Moment, Future Diski Legends' , encouraging current players to seize the opportunity in front of them. With a strong turnout of supporters, tightly contested matches, and growing excitement on the ground, the opening day sets the tone for a thrilling weekend ahead. The Gauteng leg continues through to Sunday, 20 July, with provincial champions set to be crowned and earn the honour of representing the province at the prestigious Engen Champ of Champs
eNCA
15 hours ago
- eNCA
Arsenal seal divisive move for Chelsea winger Madueke
LONDON - Arsenal sealed their controversial signing of Chelsea forward Noni Madueke in a deal worth a reported £48 million ($65 million) on Friday. Madueke agreed to a five-year contract with the Gunners as he moved to the Emirates Stadium despite complaints from Arsenal fans. The 23-year-old will provide competition for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the flanks in Mikel Arteta's side. Madueke's switch across London, which could eventually exceed £52 million with performance-related add-ons, has sparked stinging criticism from supporters who believe he is not worth the price tag. A petition labelled 'No to Madueke' has attracted more than 5,000 signatures from Arsenal fans, while murals outside the Emirates were vandalised with 'Arteta out' slogans. Madueke left Chelsea's Club World Cup-winning campaign in the United States last Friday to undergo his medical at Arsenal and put the finishing touches to the deal. "Noni is an exciting and powerful young player, with his performances and numbers in recent seasons being of consistently high quality. He is one of the most talented wide forward players in the Premier League," Arteta said. "At just 23, Noni already brings experience of club and international football, and he knows the Premier League very well. Having seen the quality of Noni's performances up close in recent seasons, we're really excited he is joining us. "Noni joins our group with familiar England teammates and other players he knows. He will be made to feel at home straight away. His arrival will really improve our squad. We're all thrilled to have him here." 'Great to go back home' Madueke, who was raised in north London, added: "I'm really happy and really proud, so it's a great moment for me. It's great to go back home, be with my mum, my dad. I know my mum misses me in the house! "It's already a great team with a clear identity and I can't wait to bring my style to the team and try and help the boys as much as possible to take that next step. "I want to win all the competitions we're in. I feel like we're definitely capable of doing that." Madueke scored 11 times for Chelsea in all competitions last season, taking his overall tally to 20 in 90 appearances in all competitions for the Blues. He helped Chelsea qualify for the Champions League and win the UEFA Conference League last term, as well as making his first England appearances. Madueke, who joined Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven for £30 million in 2023, is the latest close-season signing by Arsenal after the arrivals of midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. He takes Arsenal's spending so far to around £120 million, with Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera's £13 million move expected to be finalised shortly. Arsenal also remains hopeful of signing Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres.
