"Chelsea vs ES Tunis: Live Club World Cup Updates as Maresca Makes 8 Changes Post-Shock Defeat"

Chelsea Bounce Back with Dominant Club World Cup Victory Over ES Tunis
By Harry Bamforth and Kieran Gill | Updated: 02:01 BST, 25 June 2025

Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – Chelsea secured a crucial 3-0 victory over Esperance Sportive de Tunis in the Club World Cup, rebounding emphatically after their shock group-stage defeat earlier this week. Manager Enzo Maresca’s drastic decision to make eight changes to the starting XI paid dividends, with the Blues delivering a composed performance in front of 65,000 fans.

Maresca’s Tactical Overhaul

Maresca faced intense scrutiny following Chelsea’s 2-1 loss to an underdog side earlier in the tournament. However, his revamped lineup – featuring academy starlet Liam Smith and veteran defender Thiago Silva – silenced critics. The Italian opted for a 4-3-3 formation, emphasizing width and high pressing to dismantle ES Tunis’ defensive block.

Key Changes:

• Teenage midfielder Smith made his first senior start.
• Silva returned to anchor the defense alongside Levi Colwill.
• Forward Nicolas Jackson led the attack, replacing Armando Broja.

Chelsea’s reshaped squad dominated possession early.

First-Half Dominance

Chelsea wasted no time asserting control. Mykhailo Mudryk broke the deadlock in the 15th minute, rifling a low shot into the corner after a slick pass from Cole Palmer. The Blues doubled their lead just before halftime when Thiago Silva powered in a header from a Conor Gallagher corner.

Stat Alert:

• 78% first-half possession for Chelsea.
• ES Tunis failed to register a shot on target.

ES Tunis’ Resilience Falters

The Tunisian champions, known for their compact defense, struggled to contain Chelsea’s relentless attacks. Goalkeeper Moez Ben Cherifia prevented a rout with stunning saves against Gallagher and Palmer. However, substitute Raheem Sterling sealed the win in the 83rd minute, tapping in a rebound after Ben Cherifia parried Jackson’s close-range effort.

Sterling’s late goal cemented Chelsea’s victory.

Post-Match Reactions

Enzo Maresca:
“The response tonight was exactly what we needed. The young players showed maturity, and the seniors led by example. We’re building momentum at the right time.”

ES Tunis Coach Mouine Chaabani:
“Chelsea’s quality overwhelmed us. We’ll learn from this and focus on our next challenge.”

What’s Next?

Chelsea advance to the semifinals, where they’ll face South American champions Fluminense. With confidence restored, the Blues aim to secure their first Club World Cup title since 2021.

Final Score: ES Tunis 0-3 Chelsea
Goals: Mudryk (15’), Silva (42’), Sterling (83’)

The Blues now turn their focus to Fluminense.

Stay tuned to Mail Sport for further updates and analysis.

Note: Images are illustrative placeholders; original sources credited to Daily Mail.