Chelsea 2-0 LAFC Highlights, FIFA Club World Cup: Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto Power Blues' Win In Group D Opener

Greetings and welcome to everyone joining us this late Monday night. We will bring to you the build-up as well as live updates from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group D clash between Chelsea and LAFC.

The game will kick off at 12:30am IST. The Chelsea vs LAFC, FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match will be live streamed for free on the DAZN platform in India. It will not be telecast on any TV channel in the country.

Chelsea ended their 2024-25 campaign with eight wins from their last nine games across tournaments, including the UEFA Conference League title triumph. This is the Blues’ third appearance in the FIFA Club World Cup since 2000.

As for Los Angeles FC, they currently have an unbeaten run of 10 games across competitions, and are one of three teams from Major League Soccer, along with Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders, to take part in the 2025 Club World Cup.

There are two more games lined up in the wee hours of Tuesday (per Indian time) after the Chelsea vs LAFC encounter in the Club World Cup. Boca Juniors meet Benfica in a group C clash at 3:30am IST and Flamengo, ES Tunis — the two other group D teams — lock horns at 6:30am IST. We will cover both the matches live.

Cole Palmer is starting for Chelsea, and so is Nicolas Jackson. Here is how the Bles and LAFC line up ahead of kick-off in Atlanta:

We are awaiting the arrival of the two teams at the pitch. The referees have just walked out and Chelsea, LAFC players will follow suit. Kick-off imminent.

Players of both teams are announced one by one, and Marc Cucurella commences the procession from Chelsea. The pre-match rituals are done and we are now ready for kick-off.

We are underway at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Chelsea, in their trademark blue kit, attacking from left to right and LAFC from right to left in the first half.

Chelsea have begun the contest in right earnest, pressuring the LA defence and forcing them to move back even while holding possession. No clear-cut goal-scoring chance for either side as yet.

We have the first big chance of the game in the 17th minute. Noni Madueke latches on to Nicolas Jackson's assist and takes a crack at the LAFC goal, but custodian Hugo Lloris is alert enough to thwart the attempt with his left foot.

We have the opening goal, and it is a top-class one at that. Pedro Neto cuts inside from the right and after losing his defender, lets rip from his left foot to find the netting in the near post. Lloris is thoroughly beaten and Chelsea have the lead in the 34th minute.

The first half comes to an end after two minutes of added time. Neto's quality strike in the 34th minute separates the two teams at this stage. Let's see which way the tide turns after the mid-game interval.

The second half should have started by now, but there appears to be a technical issue that has stopped that from happening. Both teams have rung in a number of substitutions, as expected.

The second half finally gets underway. Chelsea now attacking from right to left and LAFC from left to right. The Blues make an early move into the LA box but cannot make much of it.

Chances created at both ends. Chelsea come really close to scoring their second goal as Nicolas Jackson's header in response to Neto's cross trickles inches away from the LAFC goal. Minutes later, Bouanga forces Blues goalie Robert Sanchez to make his first bonafide save of the night at the other end.

Chelsea's new No. 9 Liam Delap finally gets his debut. He comes on in place of Nicolas Jackson and makes an impact soon. Meanwhile, LAFC create another chance but Sanchez is alert enough to deny them.

Chelsea find their second in the 80th minute! That could be it for this game. Debutant and substitute Liam Delap crosses a superb ball into the LA box and Enzo Fernandez surges in to finish the move clinically.

Pedro Neto very nearly had his second at the stroke of the full-time whistle, with a sizzling shot kissing the top of the LAFC bar. The game comes to an end after three minutes of added time in the second half, and Enzo Maresca's Chelsea start their campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win.