Nicolas Jackson was sent off just four minutes after coming on as a substitute, as Chelsea suffered a poor second half and lost 3-1 to Flamengo in the Club World Cup.
Chelsea took the lead with a calm finish from Pedro Neto, who scored by sliding the ball under the goalkeeper. But things went badly wrong after the break.
In just six minutes, Chelsea gave away two goals – both easy tap-ins at the back post – to Flamengo substitutes Bruno Henrique and Danilo. Then, Jackson was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle, catching Lucas Ayrton’s shin with his studs. Wallace Yan later scored Flamengo’s third goal to complete Chelsea’s defeat.
Now, Chelsea must beat African side ES Tunis on Tuesday to have a chance of reaching the last 16. But they may also have to face a tough opponent in the next round, possibly German champions Bayern Munich.
Flamengo, on the other hand, are likely to top Group D. Their win keeps South American teams unbeaten in the new, larger Club World Cup.
What was the main talking point?
Jackson’s 24th birthday turned into a nightmare. Brought on by manager Enzo Maresca to replace Liam Delap, Jackson ended up hurting Chelsea’s chances instead of helping.
His red card adds to concerns about his behaviour. He is now banned from both the Club World Cup and the Premier League. Maresca had recently asked Jackson to show he could be trusted again – he scored in the Conference League final against Real Betis – but just two games later, he’s suspended again.
Which players stood out?
Pedro Neto was Chelsea’s only bright spot, scoring his second goal in two games. But overall, the team looked confused after four changes and a formation switch. Many players underperformed.
Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was poor, giving away the ball with bad passes. Delap, starting for the first time, made little impact.
Maresca now has a tough job ahead before the final group match.