Chelsea vs Al Hilal LIVE: Club World Cup result, final score and reaction tonight
Follow live updates as the European champions kick off their campaign at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium
Chelsea reach the final of the Club World Cup, as predicted, but just not in a manner they would have expected.
The European champions were made to work embarrassingly hard against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal for an underwhelming 1-0 victory, secured by Romelu Lukaku. The fact the striker had again scored - his first in a month and only his second in 2022 so far, the other against Chesterfield - was one of the few positives, but the game mostly showed why Chelsea had at one point considered Al Hilal manager Leonardo Jardim as a potential candidate for the Stamford Bridge hotseat.
There remain some concerns for the team, as the absence of Thomas Tuchel again brought an absence of any kind of conviction against very moderate opponents.
Al Hilal almost followed League One’s Plymouth Argyle in forcing Chelsea to extra-time in successive games, and it might have been even worse had it not been for the inspired form of Kepa Arrizabalaga. One of his stops was brilliant, particularly as he was unsighted. Chelsea’s problems were all too visible. They still look so disconnected in attack - and that despite the return of Kai Havertz - but now that bit looser in defence.
Whether that is just down to the simple effect of the manager again not being there, having had a positive Covid test, remains to be seen. There is some optimism he may return here for Saturday’s final, in the same stadium. Follow analysis and reaction to the match below:
Romelu Lukaku ends month-long drought to send sloppy Chelsea into Club World Cup final
Chelsea coaches at Club World Cup ‘constantly in contact’ with Covid-stricken Thomas Tuchel
Reece James heads to Abu Dhabi with Chelsea as they prepare for Club World Cup
‘We have to make the most of it’: Cesar Azpilicueta urges Chelsea to take chance at Club World Cup
Al-Hilal 0 - 0 Chelsea
22 mins: Al-Hilal almost create something on the counterattack when Moussa Marega flies down the right wing and swings a cross into the box. He finds Odion Ighalo who can’t work the ball out from under his own feet in order to shoot before Chelsea recover possession.
The Blues come up the left side of the pitch with Havertz in control. He floats a cross to the far post where the ball drops for Azpilicutea. He knocks it back into the middle of the box expecting Lukaku to be there but the striker had made a run into the six-yard area instead.
Al-Hilal 0 - 0 Chelsea
19 mins: Chance! The ball is played in behind Salem Al-Dawsari and Cesar Azpilicueta collects it on an overlapping run. He squares the ball into the six-yard area where Romelu Lukaku only needs a touch to guide it into the back of the net but he misses the ball as he tries to shoot.
Al-Hilal 0 - 0 Chelsea
17 mins: Save! Ziyech slots the ball into the box for Lukaku who makes another run in between the Al-Hilal centre-backs. The striker brings it under control and shoots with a right-footed effort that Abdullah Al-Mayouf keeps out at the near post.
Then the offside flag goes up against the Chelsea forward so it wouldn’t have counted anyway.
Al-Hilal 0 - 0 Chelsea
15 mins: Chelsea continue to knock of the door. Lukaku feeds the ball over to Kai Havertz on the right side of the box. His cross is blocked and there’s an appeal for handball but nothing comes from it. The ball comes out to Alonso who shoots but hits a defender. Chelsea once again get to the rebound first and Azpilicueta is sent to the byline where he cuts the ball back and wins a corner.
Al-Hilal 0 - 0 Chelsea
12 mins: Chance! Andreas Christensen wins the ball high up the pitch and gives it to Cesar Azpilicueta on the right side. He lays it off to Hakim Ziyech who lets the ball roll across his body and then boots a left-footed shot over the crossbar.
Chelsea are piling the pressure on Al-Hilal at the minute.
Al-Hilal 0 - 0 Chelsea
9 mins: Close! Ziyech brings the ball inside from the right wing and lays it across to Kovacic. He sends the ball to the opposite wing where Marcos Alonso can’t find a way into the box. He passes the ball back inside to Thiago Silva who is encouraged to hit one from range. He does so but pulls his effort just wide of the left-hand post.
Al-Hilal 0 - 0 Chelsea
6 mins: Oh nearly! It’s nice play from Chelsea to move the ball down the left side. Mateo Kovacic drives into space on the inside left channel and works he ball across to Hakim Ziyech. Romelu Lukaku makes a run into the box off the ball and Ziyech puts a first time pass into the box only for it to get intercepted and cleared by Yasser Shahrani.
Al-Hilal 0 - 0 Chelsea
3 mins: Cesar Azpilicueta receives the ball on the right wing and attempts to slide a pass into the box for Hakim Ziyech. He overhits the ball though and it rolls safely out for a goal kick.
Al-Hilal 0 - 0 Chelsea
Kick off: Chelsea get the game started. They are the favourites to win this game but Al-Hilal start on the front foot. They win the ball off Chelsea in the Blues’ half and Odion Ighalo has an early look at goal. He shoots from range and pulls his effort wide of the far post.
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