Lukaku Scores As Chelsea Qualify for Club World Cup Final

Romelu Lukaku scored the only goal of the match as Chelsea beat Al Hilal 1-0 in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final match played in Abu Dhabi. 

The Belgian took advantage of defensive mixup to score from inside the six-yard box just after the half-hour mark, and it proved the winner. 

The match got off to a slow start, even though Chelsea dominated the early exchanges. 

Hakim Ziyech got the Blues’ first chance in the 11th minute as he picked up a perfect pass inside the box, made himself some space for a shot, but his effort went just over the crossbar.

After numerous half-chances, the Blues finally got the breakthrough just after the half-hour mark, when Lukaku reacted quickest to reach a rebound and stabbed the ball into the back of the net. 

The Blues alsmost added a second before the break when Ziyech reacted well to latch onto a rebound inside the box, but his shot was well blocked.

Al Hilal grew into the match in the second half and managed to create a number of scoring chances. 

It was Chelsea though who came closest to finding the back of the net in the 62nd minute when Ziyech took a first-time shot from mid-range after he was put in the clear by a great pass, but the effort lacked a little accuracy and went just wide of the left post.

Two minutes later, Moussa Marega received a precise pass in the box and took the shot early, but Kepa Arrizabalaga managed to deny him with a brilliant save.

Mohamed Kanno then fashioned a shot from the edge of the box after receiving an accurate pass, but Arrizabalaga once again made a stunning save to stop the effort from flying into the right side of the goal. 

Despite both teams having a number of chances late on, there were no more goals as Chelsea booked a place in the final where they will face Palmeiras of Brazil.