Chelsea win 6-4 against Western Sydney Wanderers in the Sydney Super Cup.
A nine-minute Joao Pedro hattrick was the difference as English Premier League superpower Chelsea came from behind to beat A-League outfit Western Sydney Wanderers at Accor Stadium.
The Brazilian star entered the game in the 64th minute with Chelsea trailing 3-2 and would see his side fall behind 4-3 before summoning his skills to decide the contest.
Wanderers had four different scorers and had taken the lead on two occasions in a back-and-forth encounter.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE SYDNEY SUPER CUP
Dastan Satpaev gave Chelsea a seventh-minute lead before an Anthony Pantazopoulos equaliser, followed by Aydan Hammond putting Wanderers into a 32nd-minute lead.
Dario Essugo equalised for Chelsea in the 38th minute to round out the first-half scoring, before Dylan Scicluna had Wanderers back in front in the 62nd minute. Jamie Gittens equalised for 3-3 in the 66th minute, only for teenage striker Awan Lual to put Wanderers 4-3 up in the 78th minute.
But Joao Pedro would come into his own thereafter, scoring in the 80th, 85th and 89th minute to settle matters.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 28: Liam Delap of Chelsea competes for the ball against Anthony Pantazopoulos of the Wanderers during the Sydney Super Cup match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Chelsea FC at Accor Stadium on July 28, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) " data-large-file="https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287980646\_a19e7f.jpg?w=1024" height="689" width="1024" src="https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287980646\_a19e7f.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-362293" srcset="https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287980646\_a19e7f.jpg 5097w, https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287980646\_a19e7f.jpg?resize=300,202 300w, https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287980646\_a19e7f.jpg?resize=768,517 768w, https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287980646\_a19e7f.jpg?resize=1024,689 1024w, https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287980646\_a19e7f.jpg?resize=1536,1034 1536w, https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287980646\_a19e7f.jpg?resize=2048,1379 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px">
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 28: Liam Delap of Chelsea competes for the ball against Anthony Pantazopoulos of the Wanderers during the Sydney Super Cup match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Chelsea FC at Accor Stadium on July 28, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
HOW IT HAPPENED
All the early indicators were that the match would be an open affair and it took just seven minutes for a defence-splitting pass from Ryan Kavuma McQueen to set Satpaev through for the opening goal.
The Kazakh international was able to outpace German Ferreyra before beating Wanderers starting goalkeeper Jordan Holmes.
Liam Gillion was able to test Chelsea goalkeeper Teddy Sharman-Lowe with a strike in the 13th minute after he connected first time with a pass from Angus Thurgate.
The resulting corner had Wanderers level in the 14th minute as Pantazopoulos arrived at the back post to connect with a near-post flick header from Brandon Borrello.
In the 32nd minute, Aydan Hammond played Alex Gersbach through the left and received a return pass at the edge of the penalty area, sidestepped past Josh Acheampong and swept in a finish to the bottom right corner.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE SYDNEY SUPER CUP
Chelsea would only spend six minutes in arrears as Dario Essugo found the equaliser for 2-2. Satpaev cut in front he left and played a pass to Essugo who bounced off Reggie Walsh with a one-two at the edge of the box before slotting in the finish.
Chelsea should have taken the lead into half time when Tosin Adarabioyo lost the marking of Gersbach at a corner and put a close-range header wide.
German Ferreyra was forced off under an injury cloud in the 44th minute. The Wanderers’ new arrival from Melbourne City was subbed out for Nathan Barrie.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 28: German Ferreyra of the Wanderers heads the ball during the Sydney Super Cup match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Chelsea FC at Accor Stadium on July 28, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) " data-large-file="https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287975660.jpg?w=677" height="1024" width="677" src="https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287975660.jpg?w=677" alt="" class="wp-image-362289" srcset="https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287975660.jpg 1984w, https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287975660.jpg?resize=198,300 198w, https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287975660.jpg?resize=768,1161 768w, https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287975660.jpg?resize=677,1024 677w, https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287975660.jpg?resize=1016,1536 1016w, https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287975660.jpg?resize=1354,2048 1354w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 677px) 100vw, 677px">
German Ferreyra heads the ball before leaving the game injured. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Nicholas Milanovic was one of three half-time substitutes as he made his return to Western Sydney Wanderers after a season away at Aberdeen.
Australian-born youngster Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli was subbed on at half time for Chelsea.
Wanderers sub Atiya Waraga drew a sharp save out of Sharman-Lowe in the 61st minute with a low left-footed shot in the 61st minute.
And within a minute Wanderers were in front as Dylan Scicluna capitalised on a kind deflection. An attempted clearance from Landon Emenalo took a big ricochet off Brandon Borrello and fell to Scicluna at the edge of the penalty area, the midfielder then rounded Tayo Subuloye before shooting in.
Chelsea responded to going behind by making a raft of substitutions, including bringing on England star Cole Palmer and Brazil young gun Estevao.
The subs had an immediate impact, with Jamie Gittens drawing a save out of Wanderers goalkeeper Tristan Vidackovic.
And by the 66th minute the match was level again at 3-3. Joao Pedro led the Wanderers defence down to the left byline and cut back to an unmarked Gittens for a sidefoot shot.
Young Wanderers defender Ricky Fransen nearly had the red and black back in front as his 68th minute header was saved by Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez.
And it was a different younger, NPL NSW golden boot leader Awan Lual who scored to make it 4-3. Jarrod Carluccio set Lual through the right side of the penalty area and the 19-year-old made no mistake.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 28: Awan Lual of the Wanderers celebrates a goal during the Sydney Super Cup match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Chelsea FC at Accor Stadium on July 28, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) " data-large-file="https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287983391.jpg?w=1024" height="683" width="1024" src="https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287983391.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-362291" srcset="https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287983391.jpg 2934w, https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287983391.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287983391.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287983391.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287983391.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2026/07/GettyImages-2287983391.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px">
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 28: Awan Lual of the Wanderers celebrates a goal during the Sydney Super Cup match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Chelsea FC at Accor Stadium on July 28, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
But the lead was short lived as Chelsea equalised in under two minutes to make it 4-4 through Joao Pedro.
Gittens put a cross onto the head of Fransen but the defenders clearance fell straight to Joao Pedro who had the space to steady and shoot in.
Pedro would be at the double in the 85th minute to restore a Chelsea lead, finally ending Wanderers’ resistance.
And in the 89th minute a scramble at the fall of a corner kick was dinked in by Joao Pedro to complete his hattrick.
Chelsea will play Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday August 1 while Western Sydney Wanderers will learn their Australia Cup Round of 16 opponent in Thursday night’s draw.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE SYDNEY SUPER CUP
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Chelsea open the scoring through Dastan Satpaev.
Anthony Pantazopoulos equalises 1-1 for Western Sydney Wanderers.
Western Sydney Wanderers take a 2-1 lead thanks to Aydan Hammond.
Chelsea equalise 2-2 via Dario Essugo.
Dylan Scicluna puts Western Sydney Wanderers ahead 3-2.
Jamie Gittens equalises 3-3 for Chelsea.
Awan Lual strikes to put Western Sydney Wanderers ahead 4-3.