Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández found the net on Monday afternoon to guide Chelsea to a commanding 2-0 victory over LAFC in their Group D opener at the Club World Cup in Atlanta.
Chelsea broke the deadlock in the 34th minute when Neto latched onto a superb long ball from Nicolas Jackson.
The Portuguese winger sent LAFC defender Ryan Hollingshead sprawling with a clever feint before calmly slotting past veteran goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
The London side sealed the win late in the second half, courtesy of a well-worked goal in the 79th minute.
Making his Chelsea debut after a recent move from Ipswich Town, English forward Liam Delap delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, where Fernández was on hand to convert with his left foot from close range.
Both sides return to group action on Friday. Chelsea will head to Philadelphia to face Flamengo, while LAFC travel to Nashville for a clash against ES Tunis.
Tensions flared toward the end of the first half after Chelsea received two yellow cards. A brief altercation broke out between Neto and Denis Bouanga, with players needing to be separated.
Chelsea nearly extended their lead in the 54th minute when Neto’s delivery into the box found Jackson.
The forward’s header was on target, but LAFC midfielder Timothy Tillman intervened, nodding the ball away from danger.
Bouanga came close to leveling things for LAFC just three minutes later. His left-footed drive from the side of the box was goal-bound, but Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez reacted swiftly to preserve the lead.
