How Did Chelsea Triumph Over LAFC in Their Club World Cup Opener?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Chelsea secured a 2-0 win against LAFC.
- Goals were scored by Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez.
- The match took place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
- Head coach Enzo Maresca praised the team's performance.
- Chelsea has won nine of their last ten matches.
Atlanta, June 17 (NationPress) Goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez propelled Chelsea to a remarkable opening victory at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, securing a 2-0 triumph over Los Angeles FC in the Group D curtain-raiser at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
After a series of attempts from Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer, Chelsea finally broke through the LAFC defense, with Jackson sending a meticulously weighted pass to Neto, who skillfully cut to his left and finished with precision past Hugo Lloris to score the first goal.
As the second half commenced, LAFC turned to experienced striker and FIFA World Cup champion Olivier Giroud for inspiration against his former team. However, it was substitute David Martinez who drew Chelsea's attention with two shots that narrowly missed. Ryan Hollingshead also attempted a long-range effort, only to see it soar over the crossbar, according to FIFA reports.
As the match progressed, Chelsea's superior skill became evident against the Major League Soccer side. Timothy Tillman cleared a Jackson header off the line, keeping the deficit to one goal, but there was no stopping Enzo Fernandez from extending the lead. He connected with a cross from Chelsea newcomer Liam Delap and expertly directed it home to finalize the victory.
“A very good result. At this point in the season, managing such situations is crucial. Overall, we performed well and secured the win,” remarked Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea has now triumphed in nine of their last ten matches, with their recent victories spanning three different competitions: first securing UEFA Champions League qualification, then conquering the UEFA Conference League, and now kicking off their campaign in the U.S. with success.
LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo expressed, “Chelsea deserved to win. We fought back into the match in the second half and created some chances to equalize.”