Chelsea edged past Palmeiras to reach the Club World Cup semi-finals as Estevao Willian scored against his future club.
Cole Palmer put the Blues ahead in the first half with a fine solo effort, holding off two challenges before cooly slotting inside the far post.
Chelsea could - and perhaps should - have added to their tally before the break, with Liam Delap and Marc Cucurella missing good chances after being set up by the impressive Pedro Neto.
Delap struggled to assert himself against the Palmeiras, and his frustrations boiled over in the form of multiple first-half fouls, and then a booking - which rules him out of the semi-final.
And that wastefulness was punished by Estevao, who beat Robert Sanchez from the tightest of angles soon after the restart.
Taking the ball inside the area, the teenager took two touches and unleashed a shot inside the near post, which flew into the top of the net.
The game really opened up thereafter, with Joao Pedro thrown on for his debut by replacing the ineffective Delap, and Arsenal target Noni Madueke producing far more than the quiet Christopher Nkunku.
Both Pedro and Madueke were denied by Weverton, before Malo Gusto’s cross-cum-shot was turned into his own net by the Palmeiras goalkeeper seven minutes from time.
There was still time for Levi Colwill to pick up a booking, and thus rule himself out of the semi-final and hand Enzo Maresca another selection headache, after Reece James was a late withdrawal from the starting line-up with an injury.
Chelsea will face Fluminense on Tuesday.
