Liam Delap will miss Chelsea’s Club World Cup semifinal against Fluminense next week after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament on Friday night.
The 22-year-old striker, who joined the Blues in a $41million (£30million) move from Ipswich this summer, was booked before Enzo Maresca’s side went on to claim a 2-1 win over Palmeiras in the quarterfinals.
That victory means they advance to the last four of the competition, with another Brazilian team to come in New York City on Tuesday in Fluminense.
Yet Delap will not play a part in that semifinal after he was cautioned for a foul on Palmeiras’ Richard Rios, which has earned him a Club World Cup suspension.
Despite the team’s victory on the night, Chelsea fans were heavily critical of their new signing for getting a ‘stupid and unnecessary’ booking which has ruled him out of Tuesday’s game.
‘Another stupid and unnecessary yellow card picked up by Delap,’ one supporter wrote on X. ‘Now he’s suspended for the SF should we qualify’.
Liam Delap was booked in Chelsea’s Club World Cup semifinal win over Palmeiras on Friday
Delap will now miss Tuesday’s semifinal after picking up his second yellow of the tournament
Another claimed: ‘Delap is an idiot. Very nearly got a 2nd yellow for dissent during HT.’
‘Delap needs to wise up and chill out, so many needless fouls and now suspended. Has to get that out of his game,’ said a third.
While one put: ‘So silly from Delap… he’s been asking for that the whole half’.
As well as Delap, Levi Colwill also received his second yellow card of the tournament on Friday night, meaning he too will miss the semifinal against Fluminense.
Chelsea were made to work for their victory over Palmeiras in Philadelphia, with an own goal from defender Agustin Giay in the 83rd minute handing them the win.
Cole Palmer had given the Premier League club the lead with a cool finish early in the first half, only for incoming Chelsea star Estevao to equalize against his future teammates eight minutes after the interval.
Though just as extra-time seemed to be looming, Malo Gusto saw a shot from inside the box deflect off Giay and fly into the back of the net with seven minutes remaining, which proved the game’s winning goal.
Aside from his yellow card, Delap endured a difficult night upfront for Chelsea as he still awaits his first goal for the club.
If his teammates fail to get past Fluminense on Tuesday, his next chance will come when the Blues face Bayer Leverkusen in a preseason friendly on August 8.
