Chelsea kicked off their Club World Cup campaign with a solid 2-0 victory over LAFC at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday, June 16, 2025. Despite a sparse crowd of just 22,137 fans in a stadium that holds 71,000, the Blues demonstrated their class and tactical sharpness in what was the first ever competitive meeting between an English and American club.
The match saw Chelsea’s new £30 million signing Liam Delap make a memorable debut, coming off the bench to provide the assist for the second goal and impress fans and pundits alike. Pedro Neto opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a composed finish after a brilliant pass from Nicolas Jackson, who had been lively throughout the first half despite some criticism over his recent form.
Jackson’s performance was a mix of promise and frustration. He had the fewest touches in the first half (16) but ended with the second-highest WhoScored rating of 7.8, just behind Neto’s 7.9. His vision and passing ability were on full display, setting up Neto’s goal with a perfectly weighted through ball and creating chances for Noni Madueke. However, his luck seemed to run out at key moments, including a header cleared off the line and several shots blocked or narrowly missing the target.
Delap, who replaced Jackson shortly after the hour mark, brought a new dynamic to Chelsea’s attack. The 22-year-old, who turned down Manchester United to join Chelsea, displayed his pace, physical presence, and intelligent movement during his 26-minute cameo. His telepathic connection with fellow former Manchester City academy player Cole Palmer was evident, with the duo combining seamlessly twice to create dangerous opportunities. Palmer found space on the right flank and delivered precise passes to Delap, who then either pulled the ball back or crossed it into the box.
Delap’s pinpoint cross in the 79th minute found Chelsea captain Enzo Fernandez, who controlled the ball expertly and slotted it home to secure the victory. This assist marked Delap’s first for Chelsea and sparked a wave of praise from fans on social media, with many hailing him as a world-class talent and a future star for both club and country.
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s head coach, was full of admiration for Delap’s understanding of the team’s style. “Absolutely, the good thing about Liam is that he knows the way we want to play, so the process is quite quick,” Maresca said post-match. He also expressed confidence in Delap’s potential, stating before the game that he believes the striker will become “a future England number nine.” Maresca recalled their time together at Manchester City’s Under-23s, where Delap scored 24 or 25 goals in a season, emphasizing the mutual fit and optimism surrounding the young striker’s Chelsea journey.
The match itself was largely controlled by Chelsea, who dominated possession and consistently pressured LAFC’s defense. Former Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was called into action early to deny Jackson, and Chelsea’s defense, marshaled by Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill, remained largely untroubled. Robert Sanchez, Chelsea’s goalkeeper, made crucial saves in the second half, notably stopping a curling strike from LAFC’s Denis Bouanga.
Pedro Neto was the standout performer for Chelsea, showing electric pace and composure for his goal and coming close to adding another with a shot that hit the crossbar in stoppage time. Cole Palmer also impressed with moments of individual brilliance, including a dazzling solo run, though he missed a notable chance. Noni Madueke started brightly but was eventually substituted for Tyrique George, who had a quieter cameo.
LAFC, despite their limited chances early on, grew into the game in the second half and pushed Chelsea back at times, but they were unable to break down the disciplined Blues defense. Olivier Giroud, brought on as a substitute for LAFC, struggled to make an impact against a well-organized Chelsea backline.
The victory puts Chelsea at the top of Group D in the Club World Cup. Their next fixture is against Brazilian giants Flamengo on Friday, June 20, 2025, followed by a final group game against Tunisian side ES Tunis on June 25. Chelsea will be looking to build on this promising start as they aim to progress further in the tournament.
Fans and analysts alike are buzzing about the competition brewing for Chelsea’s striker position. With both Jackson and Delap contributing assists and showing glimpses of quality, head coach Maresca faces exciting selection decisions for the upcoming season. The promising chemistry between Delap and Palmer, built during their time together at Manchester City, could prove pivotal in Chelsea’s attacking setup.
Callum Wilson, speaking on DAZN, summed up the mood around Chelsea’s win and Delap’s debut, saying, “Before the game we thought Chelsea would be victorious today. Delap will be thinking this is easy! He seems like a lad ready to give it a go.”
As Chelsea continue their Club World Cup journey, the spotlight will remain on Liam Delap, whose debut performance has already won over supporters and added fresh excitement to the Blues’ attacking options.
