ATLANTA — Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez each scored goals to propel Chelsea to a 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC in the Group D opener for each team in the Club World Cup on Monday afternoon.
Chelsea struck first in the 34th minute, as Neto received a perfect downfield pass from Nicolas Jackson before sending defender Ryan Hollingshead to the ground with a fake and finding the back of the net with a strike past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
The all-important insurance goal came in the 79th minute as Liam Delap sent in a beautiful cross to Fernandez, who finished with a left-footed shot past Lloris from a few yards out.
Chelsea dominated the point of attack — possessing the ball for 65.3 percent of the game and tallying 17 shots, while Los Angeles finished with seven. Sanchez finished with four saves to Lloris’ three, and Chelsea had seven corner kicks to Los Angeles’ one.
After a first half that saw Chelsea pick up a pair of yellow cards, the two sides had to be separated as Neto and Denis Bouanga got into a jawing match.
Chelsea held possession for nearly 66 percent of the first half, while totaling nine shots to Los Angeles’ one.
Chelsea nearly doubled its advantage in the 54th minute, when Neto’s entry pass to Jackson in the box was headed toward the goal before Timothy Tillman blocked the attempt with a header redirect.
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Bouanga had a great chance to even the score in the 57th minute, but the attempt from the left of the box was stopped by Robert Sanchez, who finished with four saves.
Chelsea will continue its group play on Friday when it faces Flamengo in Philadelphia, while LAFC will play ES Tunis later that day in Nashville.