Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez have been each heading in the right direction however Chelsea have been removed from convincing in a 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC to start out their Membership World Cup marketing campaign.
Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson each went shut for Enzo Maresca’s aspect of their Group D opener on Monday earlier than the Senegal striker teed up Neto’s effective end after 34 minutes in Atlanta.
A reverse move down the fitting from Jackson launched Neto, who then left LAFC defender Ryan Hollingshead on the ground with a cute flip earlier than blasting low previous former Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
LAFC had their possibilities to start out the second half, nevertheless, as David Martinez skewed off beam earlier than Robert Sanchez denied Denis Bouanga’s fizzing effort.
Timothy Tillman additionally drilled narrowly extensive earlier than Liam Delap, making his Chelsea debut off the bench, whipped in for fellow substitute Fernandez to the touch down and fireplace residence from shut vary within the 79th minute.
Bouanga once more went shut in response earlier than Neto’s late strike brushed the crossbar as Chelsea noticed out an anticipated victory that tees them up effectively for an attractive assembly with Brazilian giants Flamengo on Friday.
Off to an incredible begin. pic.twitter.com/l4t0MhLMle
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 16, 2025
Information Debrief: Chelsea dominate as Lloris’ ache continues
Lloris is not any stranger to Chelsea, dealing with them for a twenty fourth time right here in all competitions – his most appearances in opposition to one opponent – however he has gained simply 4 of these conferences after this defeat.
Certainly, Chelsea dominated one other conflict in opposition to Lloris however not with full management as Maresca’s males gathered 1.96 anticipated objectives (xG) to LAFC’s 0.82.
Their struggles in entrance of objective weren’t helped by star attacker Palmer, who tried a game-high six pictures with none of these discovering the goal, albeit these possibilities have been price simply 0.29 xG.
Maresca will hope Palmer can discover kind as he seems to be to impress with Chelsea on the Membership World Cup, by which they beforehand reached the ultimate in 2012 earlier than profitable the 2021 version of their solely two appearances.