Chelsea Secure Confident 2-0 Victory Over LAFC in Club World Cup

Chelsea kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign in impressive fashion on Monday night, claiming a 2-0 win over LAFC at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández saw the London club take control of Group D in the tournament’s new expanded format.

The Blues, fresh off their recent UEFA Conference League triumph, asserted their dominance early, with Pedro Neto opening the scoring in the 34th minute. Neto finished confidently after a slick move orchestrated by striker Nicolas Jackson, putting Chelsea ahead in front of a crowd of 22,137.

Chelsea maintained their composure throughout the match, weathering a spirited second-half push from LAFC. The MLS side, bolstered by the halftime introduction of former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud, created several chances but were repeatedly denied by Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.

The decisive second goal arrived in the 79th minute. Liam Delap, making his debut after a summer move from Ipswich Town, made an immediate impact, setting up Enzo Fernández for a close-range finish that sealed the result.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino praised his team’s performance, particularly the contributions from new signings. “It’s always important to start strong in a tournament like this. I’m pleased with the way the team played and the impact from the bench,” he said in the post-match press conference.

The win puts Chelsea in a commanding position ahead of their next Group D fixture against Brazilian giants Flamengo on Friday.

Chelsea Starting XI:

Robert Sánchez; Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella; Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia; Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke; Nicolas Jackson.

Key Moments:

34’ – Pedro Neto scores after a pass from Nicolas Jackson (1-0)

79’ – Enzo Fernández adds a second, assisted by debutant Liam Delap (2-0)

Despite the defeat, LAFC showed flashes of quality and will look to bounce back in their upcoming group matches. For Chelsea, the victory marks a promising start as they chase global glory in the United States.

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