Chelsea Kai Havertz converted a penalty deep into extra time to grab Club World Cup glory for Chelsea with a 2-1 win over Palmeiras.
The game seemed destined for a penalty shoot-out after a drab extra time, but chelsea got the chance to go in front again and they took it.
The Belgium Striker, Lukaku initially put Chelsea ahead with an excellent header just before the hour, but Palmeiras levelled nine minutes later through a Raphael Veiga spot-kick.
Kai Havertz then kept his cool from the spot in the 117th minute as Chelsea football club were crowned world champions for the first time.
Chelsea, who lost Mason Mount to an innocuous-looking injury, did finish the half better, though.
Romelu Lukaku made no such error, however, meeting Callum Hudson-Odoi’s left-wing cross with a bullet header into the top-left corner early in the second period.
But their lead did not last long. Silva was penalised for handball in the box and Veiga confidently swept home the resulting penalty.
Christian Pulisic wasted a good opportunity in the 73rd minute, that miss ultimately leading to extra time.
Neither side offered much of an attacking threat, but Chelsea got their opportunity right at the end when Luan blocked Cesar Azpilicueta’s shot with his hand, and Kai Havertz made no mistake from 12 yards.
Luan was then sent off for hacking Havertz down as the last man, compounding a heart-breaking ending for Palmeiras, each of those decisions having been given following a VAR check.
The last time Chelsea were in the Club World Cup 10 years ago, they were beaten in the final by Corinthians and for periods of this game they were arguably second best.
But Kai Havertz got them over the line with a very composed penalty that left Weverton with no chance.
Concerns may remain with the standard of Chelsea’s performance, as they have been underwhelming at times recently, but at least for the time being their focus will be on enjoying another trophy under Thomas Tuchel.
Lukaku may not have been remarkable here, He was at least effective. He was efficient in front of goal, with that excellent header being one of just two shots, while he also laid on three chances for team-mates, no one else on the pitch managed more key passes.
Generally speaking, Palmeiras centre-back Luan was solid, even if he was beaten in the air by Romelu Lukaku for the first goal. His outing was ruined in the latter stages, though. He might argue there was little he could do about the handball, as the shot came from only a couple of yards away, but he did not need his hand to be raised. Then, the red card came out as a result of his sheer desperation to stop Kai Havertz not that it would have mattered a great deal if Chelsea had got a third so late.
