Chelsea player ratings: Pedro Neto star of the show but petulant Marc Cucurella has day to forget

The Irish Sun

16 hours ago

CHELSEA opened their Club World Cup campaign with a low-key 2-0 win over LAFC.
12
Cole Palmer congratulates Pedro Neto for his opener
Credit: Reuters
The likes of
Despite beginning as a sub, Delap did come on to have an impact.
Goals by
Pedro
Neto
and Enzo Fernandez went on to seal victory for the Blues.
Here's how SunSport's Etienne Fermie rated each Blues star.
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ROBERT SANCHEZ - 6
Flapped at a free-kick in the first-half. Really good stop with his feet to Denis Bouanga on 56 minutes.
Produced another stop late on, but did the palm the ball into a dangerous area.
12
Robert Sanchez had little to do for much of the match
Credit: Getty
REECE JAMES - 5
Booked for a late challenge. Involved in a brief scuffle before half-time and did not emerge for the second half.
Not the
England
star's finest outing.
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12
Reece James couldn't believe it when he received a yellow card
Credit: Getty
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TOSIN ADARABIOYO - 6
Yellow carded on the
stroke
of half-time but otherwise unruffled in the opening 45.
The former Man City starlet was tested more as the game went on.
12
Tosin Adarabioyo wins the ball from LAFC's Jeremy Ebobisse
Credit: Reuters
Chelsea stars including Cole Palmer fly to the US for Club World Cup
LEVI COLWILL - 6
Reasonably solid performance at the back, although the Blues' defence did get stretched as the game went on.
Colwill was guilty of misplacing passes at times.
12
Levi Colwill shields the ball from Jeremy Ebobisse
Credit: Reuters
MARC CUCURELLA - 4
Beaten incredibly easily by David Martinez on 51 minutes, but was spared his blushes when the LAFC substitute shanked his subsequent shot wide.
Involved in a few theatrical incidents and booked in the second half for a petulant challenge.
12
Marc Cucurella adjusts his barnet during the match
Credit: Getty
MOISES CAICEDO - 7
A typically tenacious performance in the middle of the park from
Chelsea
's reigning player of the year.
Caicedo was effective in regaining possession and
recycling
the ball.
12
Moises Caicedo was not afraid to get stuck in
Credit: Reuters
ROMEO LAVIA - 6
Played a few smart passes during a low-key first half.
Was replaced by Enzo Fernandez at the break.
12
Romeo Lavia battles with Nathan Ordaz
Credit: AP
COLE PALMER - 6
Uncharacteristically blazed a shot wildly over the bar after being set up by
Pedro Neto
.
Buzzed around and played a
nice
pass in the build-up to Fernandez's goal, but wasn't at his imperious best.
12
Cole Palmer floated around in the No10 position
Credit: Getty
PEDRO NETO - 8
Brilliantly cut inside before whacking a left-footed shot beyond
Hugo Lloris
to give Chelsea the lead. Put in a brilliant cross for Jackson on 54 minutes.
Gorgeous through ball to set up Palmer, only for the
England
star to blaze over.
12
Pedro Neto whacks Chelsea into the lead
Credit: Reuters
NONI MADUEKE - 5
Forced a decent stop by Hugo Lloris on 17 minutes. Was often involved during the first half but little he tried came off.
Subbed just after the hour mark having failed to make a big impact.
12
Much of what Noni Madueke tried did not work on the night
Credit: AP
NICOLAS JACKSON - 7
Played Madueke through with a brilliant pass. Later produced an even better ball to set up Neto's opener.
Nearly scored with a second half header before being replaced by
Liam Delap
.
12
Nicoals Jackson was a thorn in his opponents' sides
Credit: Getty
SUBSTITUTES
Enzo Fernandez (for Lavia, 46) -
7
Sealed Chelsea's win with a simple close-range finish.
Malo Gusto (for James, 46) -
5
A pretty underwhelming cameo from Chelsea's backup right-back.
Liam Delap (for Jackson, 64) - 7
Some brilliant bustling centre-forward play to bully his marker before nearly teeing up Fernandez. Lovely cross to set up the Argentine's goal.
Tyrique George (for Madueke, 64) -
5
A few nifty touches but didn't really make much of an impact.
Dario Essugo (for Caicedo, 84) -
N/A
Not enough time to show what he can do.
Christopher Nkunku (for Palmer, 84) -
N/A
Forgotten man barely got a touch off the bench.
Club World Cup 2025 Guide
SOME of the world's biggest clubs are heading Stateside for a MAMMOTH Club World Cup.
Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Man City, and Inter Miami are among the 32 teams taking part in the tournament, which runs from June 14 to July 13.
Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Ousmane Dembele, Cole Palmer and Harry Kane will be showing their skills to packed crowds across the US.
Los Blancos are favourites to lift the trophy in New York but will face stiff competition from around the globe.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of the tournament...
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Everything you need to know ahead of the Club World Cup
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