Chelsea opened their Club World Cup campaign with a composed 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC, powered by goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez as Enzo Maresca fielded their new signing Liam Delap, who made an immediate impact off the bench.
The Blues sent out a strong starting XI and showcased their depth at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta as the Premier League side took command early and maintain control throughout.
Chelsea found their breakthrough in the 34th minute when Nicholas Jackson, dropping into midfield, delivered a precise pass into space for Neto. The Portuguese winger showed excellent composure to Cruyff turn past Ryan Hollingshead, before finishing low past Hugo Lloris to make it 1-0.
Despite being behind, LAFC continued to press after the break and the MLS side had their chances to draw level on June 16 as Denis Bouanga forced Robert Sanchez into an impressive save.
However, Maresca made a tactical change by bringing on 21-year-old Delap in the 64th minute and the ex-Ipswich Town forward showed sharp movement down the right to cross to Fernandez, who guiding the ball past the despairing Lloris to seal Chelsea’s second goal and the win.
Whilst generally outclassed, LAFC will leave the field with their heads held high after finding chances to equalise against the UEFA Champions League outfit, although they couldn’t convert.
Coach Steve Cherundolo introduced Olivier Giroud at halftime in a bid to bolster the attack as the veteran striker added presence up front, and David Martinez joined him shortly after.
It was Martinez who had two golden opportunities quickfire chances, with one narrowly missing the target and another pulled wide after a powerful run down the flank but it was not quite good enough to level affairs.
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The 2-0 result marks a promising start for Chelsea, who appear well-positioned for a strong run in the Club World Cup against the likes of PSG, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City.
With experienced players like Fernandez and emerging talents such as Delap stepping up, Maresca’s squad demonstrated tactical balance and attacking cohesion through Neto’s composed finish and Fernandez’s assured strike.
Whilst for Delap, the debut was not just about minutes but about immediate contribution-an encouraging sign for fans hoping to see more of the young forward in future matches.
The ex-Manchester City player joined on a $40.7m (£30m) deal from the relegated Ipswich Town, where he scored 12 goals in 37 games and added two assists in his opening Premier League season.
Chelsea will now turn their attention to a Game 2 match against Brazil’s Flamengo on Friday, June 20. Kick-off is from 14:00 ET/11:00 PT at the Lincoln Financial Field – home to the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.
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