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Chelsea vs LAFC live: Result and reaction as Neto stars in Club World Cup win
Chelsea 2-0 LAFC: Goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez secured victory in Atlanta
Chelsea opened their Club World Cup campaign with a relatively comfortable 2-0 win against LAFC in Atlanta.
With a trophy in tow after Conference League success capped a solid first season under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea will now hope to build and mount a more realistic title challenge in the Premier League next season. First, though, they will look to negotiate this competition, and began strongly enough with a goal in either half enough to meet their opponents from MLS. The bright Pedro Neto opened the scoring on the half-hour mark before Liam Delap made an impact on debut off the bench, creating a chance that Enzo Fernandez finished neatly.
Flamengo and Esperance de Tunis are the other pair of teams in Group D, with the top two advancing to the knockout rounds. The expanded competition is being held at 12 venues across the United States, with 32 entrants ranging from some of Europe’s biggest clubs to semi-professional Auckland City.
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Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 77 minutes
Three opportunities in quick succession for LAFC - though I think all came after an offside for which the flag is eventually waved. They are far from out of this, though.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 75 minutes
An excellent bit of defending from Timothy Tillman, first hustling back to get the right side of Liam Delap to help Aaron Long out of a predicament and then drawing a foul from the Chelsea striker.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 72 minutes
Not far away! Left-back Ryan Hollingshead has a swing from 30 yards and almost plants it into the top corner having been afforded a lot of room by Chelsea.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 69 minutes
What a miss! Blazed over the bar by Cole Palmer with the goal seemingly at his mercy after a delicious passing move from the corner.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 68 minutes
A first really bright moment from Liam Delap, spinning a defender with pace and power and very nearly setting up Enzo Fernandez with a cut back. LAFC scramble the ball behind for a corner.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 66 minutes
Enzo Fernandez looks to curl one to the far corner but only succeeds in shoving it into the shins of a blocker all of a foot away.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 64 minutes
Here we are then - a Chelsea debut for Liam Delap. Enzo Maresca throws his new No 9 into the fray in the place of Nicolas Jackson; Tyrique George also replaces Noni Madueke.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 62 minutes
Tosin Adarabioyo gets up to meet a Malo Gusto cross after a corner is only half-cleared by LAFC. There’s too much loop on his header to seriously test Hugo Lloris.
Chelsea 1-0 LAFC, 58 minutes
David Martinez is booked after swiping at Marc Cucurella...though it looked like the instigating action was from the Chelsea left-back before he fell to the floor dramatically. Martinez’s hands were high, though.
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