Chelsea commenced their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a solid 2-0 victory over LAFC in the Group D opener, held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday, June 16, 2025. Goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández sealed the points for the Blues, marking a comfortable start to the expanded tournament for the London club.
The win sees Chelsea sit atop Group D with an early advantage, while LAFC begins their challenging group stage journey with 0 points.
Goals Secure Opening Victory
Chelsea opened the scoring in the 34th minute. Following a precise downfield pass from Nicolas Jackson, winger Pedro Neto received the ball, skillfully faked out defender Ryan Hollingshead, and coolly struck the ball past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to give Chelsea the lead. Neto’s performance throughout the match was notable, earning him Man of the Match recognition for his goal and overall attacking threat.
The crucial insurance goal arrived in the 79th minute. Making his competitive debut for Chelsea after his recent transfer from Ipswich Town, Liam Delap delivered a beautiful cross into the LAFC box. Enzo Fernández met the pass just yards out and finished with a left-footed shot past Lloris to double Chelsea’s advantage. Fernández’s goal was highlighted as the Moment of the Match, delighting the Chelsea supporters.
Delap’s Dream Debut & Player Reactions
Liam Delap’s assist on his first appearance for the club was a significant moment. The young English striker expressed his excitement post-match, calling it a “really happy feeling” and stating his enthusiasm about being at Chelsea and contributing to a win. He acknowledged the welcoming atmosphere from his teammates and looks forward to thriving on the healthy competition within the squad.
Manager Enzo Maresca was satisfied with the result, describing it as “Very good.” He specifically praised the contributions of new players like Delap, noting that Delap “knows the way we want to play,” and fellow debutant, the “tough-tackling” midfielder Dario Essugo, who also came off the bench.
Match Dynamics and Key Moments
Despite the scoreline, the match saw periods of intensity and missed opportunities for both sides. Chelsea picked up a couple of yellow cards in the first half, which also saw a heated exchange between Neto and LAFC’s forward Denis Bouanga requiring intervention.
Chelsea nearly extended their lead earlier when, in the 54th minute, a pass from Neto to Jackson resulted in a headed effort towards goal, only to be blocked by a header redirect from LAFC’s Timothy Tillman.
LAFC, particularly in the second half, responded strongly and created several chances. Denis Bouanga remained a persistent threat, forcing a save from Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez in the 57th minute with an attempt from the left side of the box. Bouanga had other near misses, including one late in the game saved by Sánchez following a defensive misjudgment by Malo Gusto. LAFC’s David Martínez also had early second-half opportunities.
Towards the end, Chelsea nearly added a spectacular third when Pedro Neto’s powerful drive struck the top of the crossbar in added time.
While LAFC suffered a defeat, the MLS side can take pride in their performance against the two-time UEFA Champions League winners. They demonstrated the ability to generate meaningful attacking opportunities and showed that their defense can compete against world-class players, offering confidence for their upcoming group matches.
Tournament Context and Next Steps
The expanded FIFA Club World Cup features 32 teams competing across 12 venues in the United States. This victory provides Chelsea, who qualified via their Conference League success the previous season, with positive momentum.
Chelsea will continue their Group D fixtures on Friday when they face Brazilian side Flamengo in Philadelphia. LAFC will also play on Friday, taking on Tunisian club ES Tunis in Nashville.
The match in Atlanta was attended by 22,137 fans at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
