Chelsea made a confident start to their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over LAFC, sending a strong message to the rest of Group D. In what was the first-ever CWC meeting between an English and American side, the Blues dominated from start to finish at the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California.
The European giants came into the match as favourites, and their performance matched the billing. LAFC were pinned back for most of the game, struggling to deal with Chelsea’s relentless pressure, fluid passing, and technical superiority.
Early Pressure but No Breakthrough
From the opening whistle, Chelsea dictated the tempo. The Premier League side kept possession, moved the ball quickly, and forced LAFC to defend deep inside their own half. It wasn’t long before the chances started to flow.
Noni Madueke came close to opening the scoring early on, cutting in from the right and firing a strong shot that was well saved by Hugo Lloris. Moments later, Cole Palmer tried his luck from long range, but his shot landed harmlessly on the roof of the net. Despite Chelsea’s clear dominance, frustration began to build as they failed to convert early pressure into goals.
Neto Breaks the Deadlock
The breakthrough finally came in the 34th minute, and it was worth the wait. Portuguese winger Pedro Neto was sent through on goal with a clever pass. He glided past a helpless LAFC defender, cut inside, and unleashed a powerful shot past Lloris at the near post.
It was a brilliant piece of individual skill and a timely goal that allowed Chelsea to settle into their rhythm even more. Neto’s strike underlined the difference in quality between the two teams and was a clear reminder of Chelsea’s attacking threat.
LAFC Respond After Halftime
To their credit, LAFC showed more aggression in the second half. Head coach Steve Cherundolo introduced David Martínez, who almost made an immediate impact with a curling effort that went just wide.
However, Chelsea didn’t panic. They remained composed and focused, continuing to create chances. Nicolas Jackson came close to adding a second goal with a powerful header that was somehow cleared off the line by Timothy Tillman in heroic fashion.
At the other end, LAFC had a golden opportunity when Denis Bouanga cut inside, mimicking Neto’s earlier move. But his effort was smartly blocked at the near post by goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, who had a solid performance throughout the night.
Enzo Fernández Doubles the Lead
Chelsea eventually put the game beyond reach in the 80th minute. Young forward Liam Delap, on his debut, showed confidence and composure as he floated in a perfectly weighted cross. Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández timed his run well, controlled the ball brilliantly, and struck it into the bottom corner past a helpless Lloris.
78′ GOAL! Enzo Fernandez doubles the lead with an assist from Delap: 2-0!
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The goal was a moment of calm execution and quality that summed up Chelsea’s control of the match. Fernández, a regular in the midfield this season, showcased why he’s considered one of the brightest talents in European football.
Sánchez Keeps Clean Sheet, Neto Strikes the Bar
While the forwards were doing their job up front, Chelsea’s defense remained rock-solid. Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez denied Martínez with a crucial late save and stayed alert to snuff out any threats LAFC posed in transition.
In added time, Neto nearly grabbed a second goal with a stunning strike that smashed against the crossbar. It would’ve added extra gloss to an already dominant performance, but the job was already done.
Chelsea Top Group D After Opening Round
With this victory, Chelsea now sit top of Group D with three points and a clean sheet. Their next challenge will be a tougher test against Flamengo, the Brazilian giants who also boast a strong squad and deep tournament experience.
Meanwhile, LAFC will face Esperance de Tunis as they look to bounce back and keep their hopes of progression alive. The American side will need to regroup quickly, but their challenge only gets tougher from here.
Chelsea, under new manager Enzo Maresca, look settled, sharp, and serious about going all the way. If this opening match is anything to go by, the Blues are in no mood to be second best.
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