Chelsea 3 PSG 0: Cole Palmer produces three moments of magic as Blues destroy European champions to win Club World Cup

The Irish Sun

a day ago

COLE PALMER has done something no other man has - upstaged Donald Trump.
Where Keir Starmer,
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Donald Trump presented the players with medals
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POTUS took the trophy over the players with Fifa
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Trump stood alongside the players as they lifted the trophy
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Chelsea squad swarm the pitch after being crowned world champions on Sunday
Credit: Getty
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Enzo Marseca's side fell to their knees at the full=time whistle
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Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the Club World Cup final
Credit: Reuters
That was until POTUS literally blocked him out of the trophy celebrations.
Two magical goals and an equally masterful assist had victory in the bag for
Big Bad Don was watching from under cover in the VIP section of the Met Life Stadium in New Jersey. Not a traditional football venue but one that will host next summer's World Cup Final.
Few without an allegiance to Stamford Bridge will have been rooting for Palmer in blue here yesterday afternoon - but think ahead to July 19 next year when he may well be doing it in the white of England.
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It's a tantalising image even if we must keep a little calm and remember this is a glorified summer kickabout dreamed up by Fifa boss
Nonetheless, poster boy Palmer has adorned every advertising hoarding, social media meme and electronic billboard these past four weeks.
And like a true star he kept his audience waiting until the very end for the piece de resistance to his magical show.
Two classy goals and an artistic assist had European champions Paris Saint-Germain beaten not long after the first mandatory hydration break as they are referred to here in the sweltering suburbs of New York.
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With Palmer leading the way,
Instead he produced three magic moments like three lighting counter punches in a world title fight. And PSG with all their hipster credentials were on the ropes.
Fans say football's 'never been further gone' as Coldplay make shock appearance at Club World Cup half-time show
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Palmer's quickfire double put Chelsea in dreamland against the Kings of Europe
Credit: Reuters
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Palmer's first strike came in the 22nd minute
Credit: Alamy
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Before he doubled the Premier League side's lead eight minutes later
Credit: Getty
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Joao Pedro added a rampant third two minutes before half-time
Credit: Getty
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President Donald Trump and the First Lady enjoyed Palmer's performance with Fifa President Gianni Infantino
Credit: Getty
The French had only conceded one goal during the entire competition prior to meeting Chelsea.
The talk was of two, three, four nil to Luis Enrique's rampant Champions League winners early doors.
But for all their undoubted talent, they clearly aren't very clever. Palmer had made it patently obvious where he was going to be shooting at. Much like Trump did with Iran.
They can't say they weren't warned.
After only eight minutes Chelsea's most naturally gifted player shaved Gianluigi Donnarumma's right hand with a left foot curler.
Just fourteen minutes later he found the net for the first time from the same spot. The only difference? He went low instead of high. Is it really so easy to bamboozle the runaway champions of Europe?
Because another eight minutes on and he did it again. The lofted ball out of defence by
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Palmer's top and check on the 18 yard line was the stuff of instinct. Up there with Lionel Messi.
It was enough to put defender Lucas Beraldo on his backside and Palmer chose the same place to plunder number two.
And with three minutes to go until half time, he showed the confidence to exquisitely chip the PSG defence. The kind of weighted lob that a golfer like Trump would have appreciated.
The Club World Cup has been something of a political plaything. Infantino was purring that having rented office space at Trump Towers in Manhattan this week, his new bestie was coming along to watch the soccer as they call it over here.
But after this masterclass from a young bloke of few words who does all the talking in shorts and boots, there is an argument for who is the most powerful man in the world.
Palmer played his part in a supreme and unlikely team effort that upset the odds.
Keeper Robert Sanchez stepped up when required with some cracking saves - all in-front of Coldplay, who performed during the very American half-time show.
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Chris Martin's Coldplay made a shock appearance at the half-time show
Credit: Reuters
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Coldplay performed mega hit 'A Sky Full of Stars'
Credit: Reuters
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Balvin performs during the half time show
Credit: Reuters
PSG made it even harder for themselves to mount a comeback when João Neves was sent off for pulling the hair of Marc Cucurella.
But now
They were only the fourth best team in England last season, so Liverpool, Arsenal and
They were invited along for having won the Champions League four years ago. The season before last they weren't in Europe at all.
They have blown more than a billion quid on players and at Christmas time they lost to Ipswich.
Now the boys from Kings Road in London are kings of the world and a handy £97 million better off.
And even Donald Trump knows who Cole Palmer is.
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