Neto, Fernández each score to lead Chelsea over LAFC 2-0 in Club World Cup
ATLANTA — Pedro Neto scored in the first half and Enzo Fernández in the 79th minute to give Chelsea a 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC in Group D's Club World Cup opener on Monday.
Chelsea put pressure on LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris early into the match. Neto found the breakthrough in the 34th minute, picking up a pass from Nicolas Jackson and cutting onto his left foot for a near-post finish.
There were 22,137 fans in attendance at the 71,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium, many of them backing LAFC. The Black and Gold had positive sparks of energy and possession throughout the first half, but struggled to find any real opportunities in front of goal.
LAFC almost got one back just before the 60-minute mark, but Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez came up with an important save to keep Denis Bouanga off the scoresheet. The Black and Gold aimed to get some more experience onto the pitch at the half, bringing on former Chelsea man Olivier Giroud, to no avail.
Coming in off the bench, Fernández made no mistake finishing Liam Delap's cross, adding another tally to the scoresheet for The Blues.
Chelsea's day was made even more positive by the debut of Delap, a promising 22-year-old English striker signed from Ipswich Town.
While Chelsea is the favorite to top Group D, LAFC's next two matches become essential to moving on to the knock-out rounds. LAFC vs. Flamengo will prove to be an entertaining game, with the two sides most likely battling it out for the group's second spot.
soccer: /hub/soccer
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Benfica rally late to hold Boca in fiery 2-2 Club World Cup draw
Goals from Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi salvaged a dramatic 2-2 draw for 10-man Benfica against Boca Juniors in a fiery Club World Cup Group C clash in Miami Gardens, Florida on Monday. Boca started strongly in what felt like a home fixture owing to lot of fans support, with Miguel Merentiel flicking in Lautaro Blanco's clever low cross in the 21st minute. Just six minutes later, Rodrigo Battaglia doubled the lead, nodding home after Ayrton Costa's header from a deep corner. — FIFACWC (@FIFACWC) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The £45 Trainer the Footwear Industry Hoped You'd Never See showbizinsider Undo Benfica responded before half-time after a VAR review awarded them a penalty for a foul on Otamendi. Di Maria coolly converted, while Boca's Ander Herrera was controversially sent off for protesting from the bench. — FIFACWC (@FIFACWC) Boca missed a golden chance to extend their lead through Battaglia again in the 69th minute, and Andrea Belotti's red card for a dangerous high boot left Benfica with ten men. Live Events Yet Boca failed to close the game, and Otamendi powered in a late header from Orkun Kokgu's corner in the 86th minute. The game ended on a sour note for Boca as Nicolas Figal received a red card for a reckless foul just two minutes before the regulation time. — FIFACWC (@FIFACWC) Despite dominating for large periods, Boca were forced to settle for a point in an intense encounter marked by three red cards and plenty of Argentine flair.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Boca denied by two Argentines as Benfica fight back
Goals from two Argentine internationals denied Boca Juniors victory over Benfica on Monday, as the Buenos Aires side were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw in a stormy Club World Cup Group C clash. An Angel Di Maria penalty on the stroke of half-time and an 86th-minute header from Nicolas Otamendi earned the 10-man Lisbon side a point from a fiercely contested encounter in what was a de facto home game for Boca. The Argentine club had led 2-0 thanks to goals from Miguel Merentiel and Rodrigo Battaglia and looked set for a night of celebration after Benfica went down to 10 men in the 72nd minute. Boca fans had taken over Miami Beach over the weekend, thousands of them gathering on the seafront for a traditional 'banderazo', singing, drinking and waving flags for hours in the searing heat. A video of Boca fans jumping and chanting in a local Walmart supermarket, to the bemusement of regular shoppers, had captured the mood but it was nothing compared to the atmosphere at Hard Rock Stadium. The home of the Miami Dolphins was turned into a Bombonera by the beach, with 90% of the 55,574 crowd decked out in blue and yellow and bringing a level of constant noise rarely, if ever, heard for NFL games here. When the action got underway it was clear that the enthusiasm from the stands was going to be matched on the field with Boca confirming the feeling that South American clubs in this tournament are out to prove a point against European opponents. Boca's midfield buzzed around, they attacked at pace and tackled with aggression and the first huge roar came when Benfica's Argentine World Cup winner Di Maria received a rough challenge from behind. But the physicality was laced with skill too and clever work from Lautaro Blanco down the left created the opening goal in the 21st minute. Blanco cut in from the left flank, nutmegging Benfica defender Florentino and zipping a low ball in which was expertly flicked home by Merentiel. The goal lifted the volume even higher and Benfica were struggling to cope six minutes later they fell 2-0 behind when from a deep Kevin Zenon corner, Ayrton Costa headed towards the back post were the alert Battaglia nodded home from close range. Two-time European champions Benfica desperately needed to get a foothold in the game and they were gifted one when Boca's Carlos Palacios mistimed a challenge on Otamendi and after a VAR review - which included a red card for protesting from the already substituted Boca midfield Ander Herrera - a penalty was awarded. The 37-year-old Di Maria showed all his experience to send Agustín Marchesín the wrong way as he gently slotted home to reduce the deficit. The tempo slowed after the break but Boca had a chance to restore their two-goal lead in the 69th but Battaglia headed wide from a promising position. Benfica found themselves further in trouble when Andrea Belotti, a half-time sub, was sent off in the 71st minute after a wild, high-footed kick into the head of Ayrton Costa. But then with six minutes remaining Boca's defence failed to pick up Otamendi at a corner kick and the Argentine veteran met Orkun Kokcu's cross with a thundering header to level the game. A disappointing result for Boca was compounded by a late red card for Nicolas Figal, who was dismissed for an ugly challenge on Florentino. Group C also features Bayern Munich and Auckland FC. sev/rcw
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Four goals, three red cards as Benfica draw with Boca Juniors
Nicolas Otamendi headed in the equalizer in the 84th minute to deliver SL Benfica a 2-2 draw against Boca Juniors in a Club World Cup match that featured three red cards Monday in Miami Gardens, Fla. Otamendi's goal, a direct strike off Orkun Kokcu's corner kick, came when each side was down a man. Boca Juniors, who squandered a 2-0 lead, finished the match with nine men after Jorge Figal's red card in the 88th. Benfica and Boca, representing Portugal and Argentina, respectively, earned one point apiece to begin Group C play. Bayern Munich previously opened Group C with a 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City. The scoring began in the 21st minute when Boca's Lautaro Blanco nutmegged his defender and sent in a cross for Miguel Merentiel, who tapped the ball to the far corner past Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. Rodrigo Battaglia doubled the advantage in the 27th. Kevin Zenon took a corner kick and Ayrton Costa headed a pass right to Battaglia for a close-range header goal. Benfica got on the board during first-half stoppage time when Carlos Palacios' contact with Otamendi was deemed a foul after VAR. Boca's Ander Herrera, who subbed out in the 20th minute due to injury, drew a red card for arguing the call from the bench. Angel Di Maria fired his shot from the spot into the bottom-left corner as Agustin Marchesin dove the wrong way. Andrea Belotti was shown red for Benfica in the 72nd minute as he kicked Costa in the head when going up for a ball. Field Level Media
