Chelsea recovered from defeat to Flamengo to cruise into the last 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC), beating Esperance de Tunis 3-0 at Lincoln Financial Field, with the result marking the fifth of their last six victories to be accompanied by a clean sheet.

On the hottest day in Philadelphia since 1994, a much-changed Chelsea side without Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto struggled to get going in the face of a staunch Esperance rearguard.

Perhaps feeling more at home in the conditions, the North Africans appeared sharper in attacking areas, but they too struggled to create clear-cut chances in a cagey affair that produced little goalmouth action. 

Liam Delap registered the game’s first shot on target on the quarter-hour, but his effort from the edge of the box was comfortably saved by Bechir Ben Said. 

The Esperance goalkeeper was forced into more strenuous work to keep out Josh Acheampong’s low drive, but there was nothing he could do to keep out Tosin Adarabioyo’s header in the third minute of stoppage time.

Set-pieces had looked like the Blues’ clearest route to goal all half, and that rang true as Tosin was left unmarked from Enzo Fernandez’s delivery.

Falling behind presented a big problem for Esperance, as only two of their prior 14 matches saw both teams score, and there was soon a mountain to climb before them, as Delap showed brilliant strength and close control to hold off one defender, jink past another and slide into the far corner for his first Chelsea goal.

The double sucker punch landed by Enzo Maresca’s men in first-half stoppage time took the wind out of Espérance’s sails, leading to a subdued resumption to proceedings.

Chelsea were still visibly the more confident side, but chances to expand their lead came and went, as Fernandez and Christopher Nkunku both blazed over from promising positions, while Noni Madueke flashed just wide of the far post.

The tempo of the contest was lowered yet further as Maresca rang the changes to keep his squad fresh ahead of the knockout stages, but one of the substitutes,

Tyrique George, added a third in stoppage time when his long-range effort burst through the hands of Ben Said.

Chelsea will meet Benfica in the last 16, while Espérance bow out at the group stage thanks to a sixth defeat from nine matches at the CWC.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)

View the full match details on Flashscore.

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