The Blues were in control throughout and created several chances. Yet it was only as the game entered first-half stoppage time that the deadlock was broken – and then quickly added to.

Our opener was scored by Tosin Adarabioyo, who guided a free-kick from Enzo Fernandez back across goal and into the far corner. Then came a moment of brilliance from Liam Delap, as he avoided pressure from two Tunis defenders to coolly finish.

Our performance in the second period was a professional one, with no opportunities given up. There was also a chance for Enzo Maresca to hand two members of his squad debuts, with Mamadou Sarr and Andrey Santos introduced.

And, just as in the first half, we left it to stoppage time to add to our tally as a low drive from Tyrique George proved too powerful for Bechir Ben Said to stop. It rounded off a fine evening's work from the Blues.

Starting well

Maresca said changes would be made to his starting XI. There were eight in total as Filip Jorgensen, Josh Acheampong, Tosin, Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke all came into the side.

A draw would have been enough for the Blues to progress, but there was no sense that we would settle for just one point. We pinned Tunis in their defensive third and probed their backline from the first whistle. Chances soon came.

Dewsbury-Hall fashioned the first as his well-directed corner was headed narrowly wide by Badiashile. Delap then forced Ben Said into a save with a low drive from distance after manufacturing space on the edge of the penalty area.

The Tunisian champions' threat came largely on the break, and Brazilian Yan Sasse had a rare sight of goal that flew narrowly over.

Building pressure

Despite the heat, we continued to control possession and moved the ball swiftly across the pitch. Ben Said was again worked as he had to paw clear a Fernandez free-kick. Tunis captain Yassine Meriah then had to divert a goal-bound header from Dewsbury-Hall clear after neat interplay by our Argentine midfielder and Gusto.

Acheampong was next to go close for the Blues, as a corner was worked short to the Academy graduate and he fired a 20-yard effort toward the corner. However, Ben Said got down well to save. He was beaten soon after by a powerful drive from Delap, but the ball whistled over the crossbar.

Five minutes were added at the end of the half. In the second of them, Acheampong was brought down and a free-kick was awarded to the Blues. It led to our opening goal.

Fernandez, wearing the captain's armband, was trusted to deliver and floated the ball onto the head of Tosin, who steered his header into the far corner.

The lead was one we deserved and, after Jorgensen had snuffed out an attempt from Yan Sasse, we doubled our advantage before the break.

It was a goal that showcased Delap's many qualities. The striker received a dinked pass from Fernandez on the edge of the box, absorbed pressure from Mohamed Ben Ali and spun away from the defender, cut beyond the covering Meriah, and then passed the ball into the net.

The goal was Delap's first for the Blues – and it ensured we went into the interval with a two-goal advantage to build upon.

There was no let-up from the Blues after the interval, as we went in search of our third goal of the night. A neat passage of play in the Tunis final third created room for Fernandez to release a shot, but his effort was deflected over.

A sight of goal was then fashioned for Nkunku by Madueke, but the Frenchman's attempt skewed wide of Ben Said's post.

Fresh legs

As the game approached the hour mark, Maresca turned to his bench. Dario Essugo was introduced for Romeo Lavia and Delap was replaced by Marc Guiu.

We continued to carry a threat, and Madueke came close with a low drive across the Tunis goal after a nice pick-out by Dewsbury-Hall.

Further changes were made by the Blues' head coach as Andrey Santos was brought on for his Chelsea debut in place of Enzo Fernandez. Tyrique George also came on, as Madueke was withdrawn.

The pace of the game dipped during the final twenty minutes, perhaps due to the combination of the unrelenting heat and the Blues being firmly in control.

It did appear as though we would have the opportunity to add a third goal to our tally when a shot from Santos struck an arm and a penalty was awarded. However, VAR intervened and suggested referee Yael Falcon Perez review his decision on the monitor. As a result, the spot-kick was overturned.

The Blues were comfortable at this point, however, and Maresca was able to make one final change as Sarr was brought on for his Chelsea debut. Gusto was given the final minutes of the contest off.

Claiming a third

There was still time for two late opportunities. The first fell to Guiu, who raced onto a pass but couldn't steer his shot beyond Ben Said. The Tunis goalkeeper then reacted well to deny George.

Yet in the final seconds, our third goal did arrive. One last break forward was led by Nkunku, and the ball was eventually worked to our Academy graduate, whose low drive couldn't be stopped by Ben Said.

Our place in the knockout stage was secure, and Benfica come next in Charlotte on Saturday.

What it means...

The Blues finish second to Flamengo in Group D, with six points claimed from our three matches. We now move into the Round of 16.

What comes next...

We will face Portuguese giants Benfica for a place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals. That game will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday 28 June. Kick off is at 9pm in the UK

The teams

Chelsea: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Tosin, Badiashile, Gusto (Sarr 83); Lavia (Essugo 59), Fernandez (c) (Andrey Santos 67); Dewsbury-Hall, Nkunku, Madueke (George 67); Delap (Guiu 59)
Chelsea substitutes: Sanchez, Penders, James, Chalobah, Colwill, Anselmino, Cucurella, Caicedo, Pedro Neto, Palmer
Scorers: Tosin 45+3, Delap 45+5, George 90+7

ES Tunis: Ben Said; Ben Ali, Meriah, Tougai, Ben Hamida; Ogbelu, Guenichi (Bouchniba 72); Mokwana (Derbali 46), Yan Sasse (Jebali 83), Konate (Tka 83), Jabri (Rodrigo Rodrigues 56)
ESTunis substitutes: Memmiche, Debchi, Jelassi, Ben Mohamed, Koudhai,, Dhaou, Hamrouni
Booked: Derbali 83,

Attendance: 32,967