So, LAFC really had to fight for their spot in the tournament, clinching it at the end of May when they took over Leon's vacated place. And you know what? With just under three weeks to get ready, they did an impressive job of keeping up with Chelsea, who were definitely the favorites going into the match.
There were quite a few empty seats in the stands in Atlanta, but that didn’t stop Pedro Neto from lighting things up
. He scored after 34 minutes, connecting with Nicolas Jackson’s perfectly timed pass and sending a low shot past Hugo Lloris right at the near post. Not long into the second half, Jackson nearly made it two, but then Robert Sanchez stepped up for his first big moment, denying LAFC’s star player, Denis Bouanga.
As the match went on, LAFC showed they were getting better, but Chelsea’s quality was hard to overlook. Enzo Fernandez sealed the deal with a late goal, ensuring a 2-0 win. Liam Delap, who made quite an impression after coming on, made a great run and sent a lovely cross into the box, which the substitute volleyed home.
Now, let’s talk about some individual performances:
Pedro Neto (7/10):
He kept his cool really well to score, choosing to take his time instead of rushing it. Just when you thought he might grab another, the crossbar had other ideas in stoppage time.
Cole Palmer (7/10):
He was at the heart of most of Chelsea's attacks, stitching plays together. But man, he really missed a chance when he fired over from a perfect spot when the Blues could’ve used that second goal.
At halftime, former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud came on for LAFC, hoping to put a little more pressure on Sanchez than his team managed in the first half.
Jackson almost equalized with a header, and LAFC came close again, but Sanchez made an incredible save with his leg to deny Bouanga, who had just shaken off Neto.
Then, after the hour mark, Maresca brought in 22-year-old striker Delap for his Chelsea debut, having started the game with all the new guys on the bench. Quite the mix of talent on display!