Chelsea kicked off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over LAFC at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday. While the stadium still had plenty of empty seats, the English side wasted no time stamping their authority.
The reigning UEFA Conference League champions leaned on their midfield engine as Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson began to find space. Palmer curled a threatening shot just after the 20-minute mark, signaling Chelsea's growing confidence.
In the 34th minute, Jackson threaded a smart pass to Pedro Neto, who shrugged off his marker before slotting past LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. The visitors then weathered a brief storm when LAFC replaced Nathan Ordaz due to a head knock, but Chelsea remained in control.
Jackson came close to making it 2-0 when his header skimmed the post. On the rare occasions LAFC broke forward, winger Denis Bouanga tested Chelsea's keeper Robert Sanchez with a powerful strike that demanded a solid save.
Substitute Liam Delap, one of Chelsea's summer signings, made an immediate impact after coming on in the 64th minute. With fresh legs, Delap whipped in a precise cross that found Fernandez at the far post, sealing the 2-0 win and setting the tone for Chelsea's tournament journey.
This result highlights Chelsea's squad depth and tactical flexibility as they aim to lift the prestigious club trophy, while LAFC will regroup and look to bounce back in the next match.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
