Chelsea defeat LAFC in poorly-attended Club World Cup opener / Photo: © AFP
Chelsea defeat LAFC in poorly-attended Club World Cup opener
Chelsea kicked off their Club World Cup campaign with a solid 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC on Monday in Group D, although there were nearly 50,000 empty seats in the stadium in Atlanta.
Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez's goals got the Blues off to a good start in a competitive clash against one of the three qualified MLS teams.
New signing Liam Delap made his debut as a substitute and helped set up Fernandez's strike, with Chelsea hoping to go far after their UEFA Conference League triumph and Champions League qualification, looking to re-establish themselves among the elite.
After a solid start to the tournament regarding attendance numbers over the opening weekend, a sparse crowd of just over 22,000 settled in at the stylish 71,000 capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Behind former Tottenham Hotspur stopper Hugo Lloris' goal in the first half, a couple of hundred LAFC 'ultras' helped provide an atmosphere with a drum beat and constant song.
Although the closed stadium roof offered refuge from the Georgia humidity and mid-afternoon summer sun which Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid stars roasted under on Sunday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, the attendance suffered badly because of the 3:00 pm local time kick-off.
Despite regular strong crowds for MLS side Atlanta United, the best supported US team, few locals decided to take a Monday off work for the tournament's first weekday afternoon game, seemingly chosen to suit a British television audience.
After beating Club America in a play-off to qualify for the competition as late as May, LAFC took the place of the banned Mexican side Club Leon, and play none of their three group games in California.
The top ring of the stadium was entirely shut and other levels were only partly filled, despite ticket prices dropping in the days ahead of the game.
Lloris rated his team's chances against Chelsea as "really thin" on the eve of the game and was called into action several times as the Blues took control from the start.
The French stopper saved from Nicolas Jackson and then Noni Madueke after the Senegalese forward set him up, while Cole Palmer whistled a strike narrowly over.
With new signing Delap looking on from the bench, Jackson played like a man determined to keep his starting spot.
The striker was instrumental in Neto's opener, releasing the Portuguese winger with an excellent through ball.
Neto chopped in the box to leave LA defender Ryan Hollingshead stumbling helplessly out of sight and then buried a powerful strike past Lloris low at the near post.
- Delap debut -
Former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud came on at half-time for the Americans, hoping to threaten Robert Sanchez's goal more than Steve Cherundolo's team managed in the first half.
Jackson came close with a header and LA almost levelled but Sanchez made a fine save with his outstretched leg to thwart 2023 MLS golden boot winner Denis Bouanga after he shook off Neto.
Maresca brought on 22-year-old striker Delap for his Chelsea debut after the hour mark, having begun the game with all of the club's new faces on the bench.
The forward drove into space and tried to tee up Fernandez with a promising first move in a Chelsea shirt since his arrival from relegated Ipswich Town.
Chelsea star Palmer, who had shown occasional flashes of brilliance, hammered over.
LA threatened increasingly, with Marc Cucurella blocking well from David Martinez, before Fernandez grabbed Chelsea's second.
Running into the six-yard box the Argentine midfielder controlled Delap's cross from the right and beat Lloris to put the game to bed.
Elsewhere in Group D Esperance Tunis face Brazil's Flamengo later on Monday.
F.Hughes--TNT
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