Chelsea v LAFC: Club World Cup – live | Club World Cup 2025

“,”elementId”:”d611c947-7290-4dca-b5f0-23570eb64a41″},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:({“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”2177″,”width”:”3223″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/3223.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”2177″,”width”:”3223″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1351″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”675″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”338″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”95″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/140.jpg”})},”elementId”:”7e96bd49-d4ad-447e-8533-7e218be02e2b”,”imageSources”:({“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:({“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8f1d6fa8064e1883f6ff76de4f195e61″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=458c2189df9acf07abe732d234befa2e”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=944f3e506db0c07f3f99d80fe8e0eea1″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b87bb372e81f6a62a2f6282d6334eb3c”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5b2e96083f0513c8de946b59f2a2c3ed”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=656f9955e51b1987185977f40111a495″,”width”:890})},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:({“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5cc002c62d8e8ab6a643ae98f3664e22″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=52092e1c76f8c0fe9b90b4a398402654″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=24832041c8a148728b1ddeb75c5cc40e”,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b3b0ababbcf4904c4bc041f5d5841a14″,”width”:240})},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:({“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9a81dc2bb4aa3e42ebc0550e8abb3fed”,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=155a2800c7ed6c786354f61fdacaa857″,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=111599c30fba51227a89ef7bc97b1be5″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b04a5ad0135b5537d59c92d5cea91b99″,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8f1d6fa8064e1883f6ff76de4f195e61″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=458c2189df9acf07abe732d234befa2e”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=944f3e506db0c07f3f99d80fe8e0eea1″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b87bb372e81f6a62a2f6282d6334eb3c”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5b2e96083f0513c8de946b59f2a2c3ed”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=656f9955e51b1987185977f40111a495″,”width”:890})},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:({“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c188a68377ce732bfe0f76d164bbbef1″,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4427dc019dae9da71c86109f22829226″,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b647ac54232ab7a8b75327b17e2df151″,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6598e083c6eda4e3b20c7e36fd41c3a5″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8f1d6fa8064e1883f6ff76de4f195e61″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=458c2189df9acf07abe732d234befa2e”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=944f3e506db0c07f3f99d80fe8e0eea1″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b87bb372e81f6a62a2f6282d6334eb3c”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5b2e96083f0513c8de946b59f2a2c3ed”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=656f9955e51b1987185977f40111a495″,”width”:890})},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:({“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8f1d6fa8064e1883f6ff76de4f195e61″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=458c2189df9acf07abe732d234befa2e”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=944f3e506db0c07f3f99d80fe8e0eea1″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b87bb372e81f6a62a2f6282d6334eb3c”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5b2e96083f0513c8de946b59f2a2c3ed”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=656f9955e51b1987185977f40111a495″,”width”:890})},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:({“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=035e8a72a508e10261a7ca74e99338cd”,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b2ef51f7b6dc0447c2931c4c99edd489″,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=dde727105138992324591fc1cc7fb92b”,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=de44f9b95c2cad8725e5a11c90bae441″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3b951e1d6bc906812f4044247ce44153″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=138487ec7f8684efdcc5411f7d304d65″,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3e5a98d1bf61178c832879cd1e9f7118″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2422dbd2bd3a96554eb061e3c390993b”,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=114cfae85aa15eb984a866bea33a1951″,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=a1243b3c4dc2e07c0eff938d26b09ac9″,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8e758831432e508902d02828e12eb318″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=070e409216af064d3158af5acbd4b517″,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=28ce4f9ed20e19e8a7d1bbb926a19f45″,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a9c6722325a6e6f1425c86cc7a3f9ca973d41fc7/0_0_3223_2177/master/3223.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=1fcd5c7e92b826e728bc1a78b6f248db”,”width”:960})}),”data”:{“alt”:”Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez scores their second goal.”,”caption”:”Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez scores their second goal.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters”}}),”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1750106658000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”21.44 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1750106819000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”21.46 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1750106756000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”21.45 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”21.45″,”title”:”GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 LAFC (Fernandez 80)”,”contributors”:(),”primaryDateLine”:”Mon 16 Jun 2025 21.52 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Mon 16 Jun 2025 19.00 BST”},{“id”:”685075938f08acdd2cafc895″,”elements”:({“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

A bit of a set-to to end the half, Bounaga and Neto sharing sentiments once the whistle goes with various others getting, er, in and around them. But the ref intercedes and off everyone trots.

“,”elementId”:”5df07f40-979e-4c25-b3c6-009f505a57ed”}),”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1750103443000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”20.50 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1750103505000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”20.51 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1750103505000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”20.51 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”20.51″,”title”:”HALF-TIME: Chelsea 1-0 LAFC”,”contributors”:(),”primaryDateLine”:”Mon 16 Jun 2025 21.52 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Mon 16 Jun 2025 19.00 BST”},{“id”:”685072378f08acdd2cafc874″,”elements”:({“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

This is beautifully taken. Again, Jackson does really well, taking the ball after Cucurella wins it and slithering along the halfway line before setting Neto away. His first touch is poor, taking him down the line rather than towards goal, but a a lovely chop inside, sending Hollingshead off to Chick-fill-A, opens everything, and he lashes a finish inside the near post to set Chelsea away.

“,”elementId”:”cd025e00-8831-487f-bf39-c83389572a54″},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:({“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”3120″,”width”:”4760″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/4760.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”3120″,”width”:”4760″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1311″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”655″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”328″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”92″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/140.jpg”})},”elementId”:”c40f516c-ccae-47bd-87ad-5265728c34c3″,”imageSources”:({“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:({“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7c050f5a801f1003e543858365d881a9″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=849381be7383897e97ab60ad12e28b02″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=13ecd7e54147caf38f61affcdcd6e4d4″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b926b9eb2992ebe0b13a762139644b3a”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c6de8651666b94490d7b2e471beded3c”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=38d81bd7520740c3ccc85852c16c79e8″,”width”:890})},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:({“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=009eef5694e6f4f1decbcbf5e0242271″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=112e96e3bb6ca81027f1efd89904c512″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b69ffead8163c0b52dc895af5b3f533c”,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=2ba3dac5a37dc26331af66085426302c”,”width”:240})},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:({“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ba2d3c27879bb0631f26123a09bd725d”,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fda4dc384514dfb1bc1d7caa8c62e84e”,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8fa6c98b04e53418189fee5386d9745e”,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=db324c7c11ef14bc3d3d29de6778dacd”,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7c050f5a801f1003e543858365d881a9″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=849381be7383897e97ab60ad12e28b02″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=13ecd7e54147caf38f61affcdcd6e4d4″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b926b9eb2992ebe0b13a762139644b3a”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c6de8651666b94490d7b2e471beded3c”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=38d81bd7520740c3ccc85852c16c79e8″,”width”:890})},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:({“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e3fd9e3659a21b6515dc652a052cb751″,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=91344834dd254c893a0067034113d39a”,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8f55d719781dc5a15794815d7ee4857f”,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=20184a980ccb3e98b638bd2d8e4f6ea1″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7c050f5a801f1003e543858365d881a9″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=849381be7383897e97ab60ad12e28b02″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=13ecd7e54147caf38f61affcdcd6e4d4″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b926b9eb2992ebe0b13a762139644b3a”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c6de8651666b94490d7b2e471beded3c”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=38d81bd7520740c3ccc85852c16c79e8″,”width”:890})},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:({“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7c050f5a801f1003e543858365d881a9″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=849381be7383897e97ab60ad12e28b02″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=13ecd7e54147caf38f61affcdcd6e4d4″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b926b9eb2992ebe0b13a762139644b3a”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c6de8651666b94490d7b2e471beded3c”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=38d81bd7520740c3ccc85852c16c79e8″,”width”:890})},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:({“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5f2e1440dd15bc3b8c97b64fe6b1785a”,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4b51a5bec29e9ad5a5596358e5877ab7″,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2f6c20fad63462bf70e16f4c94da3922″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0f786f4e65534a1dfa201443e2ffb5ac”,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0eb70e37115ac01a08c9bd7724ea12b1″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=efa53ddbd123490c17845edb24d7fa5c”,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a85cd4eb8dc0b2cec21c1108177dcd6c”,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=562c153a419b68144f123de8c0a2dca5″,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6b1971705fefc804d30e313ce36a8237″,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=22f12a818fd5b8e0a7e03ac628b59ecb”,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=27a2d17c3fc8fbeb86618073c59289e2″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0ddcbc45d6de2e49114ef83fca2b4792″,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3c71f132b1580df0907392fdb099d332″,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/af2717b4ee7bcdb23173adcc054c6fce280fe89f/0_0_4760_3120/master/4760.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f6ca7a3c37f46faa75cf02f1013992af”,”width”:960})}),”data”:{“alt”:”Chelsea’s Pedro Neto scores their first goal.”,”caption”:”Chelsea’s Pedro Neto scores their first goal.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Dale Zanine/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters”}}),”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1750102583000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”20.36 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1750103099000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”20.44 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1750102737000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”20.38 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”20.38″,”title”:”GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 LAFC (Neto 34)”,”contributors”:(),”primaryDateLine”:”Mon 16 Jun 2025 21.52 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Mon 16 Jun 2025 19.00 BST”},{“id”:”68505cc28f088dfd6f2b52ab”,”elements”:({“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Jackson. Subs: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile, Sarr, Anselmino, Essugo, Fernandez, Santos, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Nkunku, Delap, Guiu.

“,”elementId”:”58f94760-5e77-47cf-bb6a-061ad0de9012″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

LAFC (4-3-3): Lloris; Palencia, Long, Segura, Hollingshead; Tillman, Jesus, Delgado; Ordaz, Ebobisse, Bouanga. Subs: Ochoa, Hasal, Chanot, Tafari, Marlon, Saldaña, Raposo, Dilrosun, Amaya, Holm, Yeboah, Wibowo, Martínez, Giroud.

“,”elementId”:”09f7fe72-20f2-4497-b80e-83f56234946c”}),”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1750097090000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”19.04 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1750097449000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”19.10 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1750097449000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”19.10 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”19.10″,”title”:”Teams!”,”contributors”:(),”primaryDateLine”:”Mon 16 Jun 2025 21.52 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Mon 16 Jun 2025 19.00 BST”},{“id”:”684fe02e8f0862f7ca336be7″,”elements”:({“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

It’s hard to know what to feel here, isn’t it? On the one hand, a confected competition, staged for impure reasons, by men of questionable character, in a country undergoing a fascist takeover, skewing domestic competitive balance yet further, while players trudge through yet more games; on the other hand, FOOTBALL.

“,”elementId”:”ab552a46-beaa-4af8-b472-4337b6c03646″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

LAFC did not qualify for this competition automatically, by winning the Concacaf Champions League; rather, they won a play-in after León, former Concacaf Champions League winners, were disqualified for infringing club ownership structure rules. But here they are so here we are, the fifth-best side in the Western Conference, we’ll never sing that.

“,”elementId”:”07bce3e9-6b5f-4068-a37e-8527b8399002″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Facing them we have none other than the reigning Conference League champions – who, in fairness, did actually win the Champions League to make it into this tournament. And Chelsea are, in various ways, a prime example of the vain, venal, narcissistic decadence it represents … but how exciting might it be if, suddenly, they click?

“,”elementId”:”0ef5c82d-f471-473e-8f8e-cf7e3fd9209c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Kick-off: 3pm local, 8pm BST

“,”elementId”:”dbe20a85-5e8c-4e2a-acdf-9b8127402d28″}),”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1750096824000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”19.00 BST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1750096300000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”18.51 BST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1750096824000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”19.00 BST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”19.00″,”title”:”Preamble”,”contributors”:(),”primaryDateLine”:”Mon 16 Jun 2025 21.52 BST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Mon 16 Jun 2025 19.00 BST”}),”filterKeyEvents”:false,”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”,”absoluteServerTimes”:false,”renderingTarget”:”Web”}”>

Key occasions

87 min Good from Chelsea, Delpa seizing a free ball and exhibiting nice feet in flicking a pass for George, who finds Neto. He crosses to the encourage put up, the put a magnificent final-ditch header from Palencia takes the ball some distance from the ready Nkunku.

85 min Martinez runs at Colwill, tries a substandard to the encourage put up with the outside of his boot … and there’s too unheard of on it.

84 min Now two adjustments for Chelsea: off trot Palmer and Caicedo, on come Nkunku and Dario Essugo.

82 min A exchange I overlooked after the goal: LA sent Amaya on for Jesus.

81 min Prolonged ball over the tip, Gusto gets nowhere near it, and Bouanga is onto it! He falls – however changed into once he shoved? – then, from the bottom, one intention or the opposite serene swivels correct into a shot … that Sanchez saves. Gusto is lucky, because there changed into once contact that made a difference, when he changed into once nowhere near the ball.

Now not any longer they’re no longer! Palmer rolls down the aspect of the LA defence for Delap, who crosses properly, and, bursting into the box, Fernandez controls alongside with his physique on the lag, then hammers dwelling from end differ.

77 min Now Tillman sneaks around the outside of Cucurella, stands up a substandard, and Gusto heads some distance from Giroud, correct, then Colwill taps away when Bouanga crosses, Martinez has a shot blocked and a ball to the some distance put up is slid in the encourage of by Bouanga, serene there from the outdated effort … however he changed into once offside. At 1-0, LAFC are serene bang on this.

76 min Delap bullocks into the box however Tillman gets in entrance of him and awaits the inevitable defective. the original boy is doing his most efficient to ingratiate himself with the Chelsea increase.

75 min Cucurella shoves Martinez in the encourage, who goes down clutching an ankle, and he’s booked.

73 min “Chelsea non-public three world-class gamers in Caicedo, Cucurella and James (if he stays fit for crawl),” reckons Julian Menz. “Palmer and Enzo are virtually there. Lavia isn’t too shabby both, and we’ve yet to stare what a trusty striker, Delap, can attain to encourage the wingers. Now not to remark the arrival of Santos and Estevao. Too young trusty now? Doubtlessly. Seemingly contenders? Entirely.”

I’m having a imagine ahead to seeing Estevao, however the others? Compatible gamers, however a intention off the finest around in mine. Review them to, remark, Salah, Alisson and Van Dijk, or Kante, Hazard and Diego Costa.

72 min It’s some time since LA non-public mustered a excessive attack, however as I form, Hollingshead finds himself in an developed space down the left, he dashes across a tame say from Gusto, shoots … and the ball whizzes over the tip. Warning for Chelsea.

70 min Caicedo into Neto, who slips a stress-free reverse-pass into the box for Palmer; he appears internal, love he’s going to substandard or imagine the some distance nook, handiest to slump a remember high, however over the tip.

69 min Compatible skedaddle from Delap, one lag for the defender and any other lag for himself, so when the ball comes he has put to diddle Prolonged on the outside, however his in the cut price of-encourage, seeking Caicedo, is blocked.

67 min Bounaga is penalised for a defective on Fernandez, he stos in entrance of the ball, and Cucurella kicks it into him making an are trying to procure him booked. “No need for that,” moralises Michael Brown.

66 min Chelsea spread to George, who lays encourage for Fernandez … and his curler is blocked.

65 min Delap celebrates that debut by ostentatiously pushing Prolonged over. Kerry Dixon could be kvelling.

64 min Two more adjustments for Chelsea: off trot Madueke, who marks the occasion with a pair of snot rockets, and Jackson, with George and Delap approaching, the latter for his Chelsea debut.

63 min Martinez whacks Cucurella across the calves – that’s more of a booking than the shove for which he changed into once booked – kicks the ball away, and the ref presents him what ought to serene be a closing warning.

62 min This time, the nook goes into the box, winding up with gusto over the some distance aspect; he crosses and Jackson heads vast.

61 min Palmer pulls trusty and beats a few men by sliding a pass between them for Jackson, whose return is discouraged. But he collects it however, nips outside Palencia, and his shot is blocked in the encourage of.

58 min Cucurella bumps Martinez, who shoves him encourage; naturally, Cucurella collapses in a heap of curls, love the Unhealthy Witch of the West after Dorothy chucks the bucket of water (apologies for the spoiler). Martinez is booked.

57 min Prolonged, having a imagine ball over the tip and Bouanga is goal-aspect of Neto! And he does beautifully to abet him off too, then appears to brush his shot internal the near put up – no longer the remember Sanchez is looking at for, however one that it’s more straightforward to place … and he does, stretching out a foot. That changed into once a truly correct likelihood.

56 min “Invoice doesn’t sound a truly original traveling fan,” laments Tim Stappard. “A joyful medium would be abundant. Craven Cottage perhaps?”

Some significantly menacing costs in the hostelries spherical that intention.

55 min The 2d nook also goes immediate, coming to nowt.

54 min It goes immediate to Palmer, who finds Neto, who teases a palatable ball in direction of the some distance put up, the put Jackson is up … however his header flicks a defender and goes in the encourage of.

Fifty three min Chelsea trot straight encourage on the attack with Colwill turning up on the left waft to get hold of a nook.

51 min But right here they arrive all yet again, Martinez situation in opposition to Cucurella and slowing him down, then nipping off on his outside handiest to get he’s too off-steadiness to attain anything as opposed to screw a shot vast of the near put up. Silent, though, that’s encouraging for LA – Martinez, handiest 19, appears love he’s obtained rather of one thing.

51 min Good from LA, who get Martinez outside the box, trusty of centre; he dips internal, tries a curler, and the ball hits Giroud and flies in the encourage of.

50 min Fine from Neto, who draws Hollingshead in, scalds him on the outside … and can’t get Jackson alongside with his in the cut price of-encourage.

forty eight min How some distance will we judge Chelsea are from a reliable title say? It’s astounding in actuality, given how unheard of money they’ve spent, that the doubtlessly correct reply is “very”. There are, for crawl, many programs to expose, however regularly talking the aspect that wins it has on the least three gamers among the many most attention-grabbing on this planet of their space; attain Chelsea non-public any?

46 min He may perhaps even non-public gone off, however I belief the LA fans non-public a tune for Ebobisse to this banger:

46 min We trot all yet again…

Giroud is no longer any longer topless. He’d forgotten his shirt, however a teammate fetches it for him and he replaces Ebobisse.

I in actuality non-public a Giroud tale, which I’ve with out doubt relayed earlier than, however right here we trot: I changed into once in the discotheque and observed him in the lavatory; the attendant goes “Oi, you’re … you’re …” so Olivier Giroud presents “Olivier Giroud?”. “Yeah, that’s trusty,” concurs the attendant, at which level hilarious me intejects “You may perhaps well expose because he’s having a imagine in the insist adjusting his hair.”

Oh how they laughed.

Modifications for Chelsea: Fernandez and Gusto for Lavia and James. Oh, and Olivier Giroud, on the LAFC bench, has his high off. Fabulous scenes!

Half-time email: “Americanized stadiums no longer a patch on the trusty ordinary days at Roker Park, The Den etc? I dunno,” muses Invoice. “I changed into once pissed on by the dwelling fans at Loftus Street, the away fans at Portman Street, attacked by West Ham fans on the ordinary Wembley. Again to the 80s? No thanks!”

There absolutely exists a joyful medium.

Half-time leisure:

A tiny little bit of a situation-to to entire the half, Bounaga and Neto sharing sentiments once the whistle goes with a host of others getting, er, in and around them. But the ref intercedes and off everybody trots.

Forty five+2 min Jackson, the finest player on the pitch to this level, finds Madueke, whose substandard sails intention previous the some distance put up.

Forty five+1 min We’ll non-public one extra minute; Bouanga all yet again curls in, and this time, Ebobisse is offside.

Forty five min Ebobisse turns Tosin, who slips and slides anyway; he’s booked. Free-kick LA, 25 yards out, trusty of centre.

43 min “If a goal is scored in a wooded space, however no person sees it, does it serene count as a goal?” wonders Ross McLelland. “Let me know.”

It will also correct be a dream. This in actuality took space to me at lord’s on Wednesday, when my eyes had been feeling heavy and I changed into once correct brooding about resting them, then Steve Smith obtained himself out to Aiden Markram and I wasn’t particular if it changed into once reverie or reality.

41 min There’s no sense LA non-public the wherewithal to procure encourage into this, however so long because it’s 1-0, they’ve an substitute. And right here they arrive now, Martinez to Palencia, whose early substandard is nodded encourage into the center by Bouanga, however Ebobisse slips.

39 min The ref cam is a nice innovation – it presents us a truly correct sense of the physicality and bustle of things.

38 min Ordaz goes off, then Bouanga curls the free-kick into the center and Sanchez flicks in the encourage of; Martinez then comes on.

37 min Oh, Ordaz, having taken a ball to the head, has a say, and o come the doctors.

36 min A protracted kick-out from Lloris sets Bouanga at James, who leaps correct into a say, misses the ball, catches Bounaga alongside with his physique, and is booked. Naturally, Michael Brown, in co-comms, thinks it’s magnificent, however LA non-public a free-kick a yard or two from the by-line, between nook flag and box.

Right here’s beautifully taken. Over again, Jackson does in actuality properly, taking the ball after Cucurella wins it and slithering alongside the halfway line earlier than environment Neto away. His first contact is discouraged, taking him down the line in wish to in direction of goal, however a a stress-free cut internal, sending Hollingshead off to Chick-occupy-A, opens all the pieces, and he lashes a remember internal the near put up to situation Chelsea away.

31 min “I observed NUFC play Chelsea in the Mercedes Benz Stadium in 2023,” advises Reuven Fletcher. “It’s a truly impressive space, if that’s your form of thing, the future of high flight ‘match-day skills’ because it becomes more and more Americanised and commodified. Paunchy of immediate meals chain restaurants and American citizens in the shirts of facets no longer taking share int he game (Arsenal, Man City etc) as they wanted in on the Premier League skills. Some very friendly Atalanta Followers who had come alongside to enhance Migeul Almiron, who changed into once at NUFC then, asked in the occasion that they ought to serene increase Newcastle. I said correct persist with your group, it’s ample.

Give me Filbert Street, Roker Park, The Baseball Floor and the specter of a hiding on the Archaic Den any day over Chick-occupy-A etc in my scheme.”

I agree – depth and involvement are unheard of more well-known than look-strains and legroom, on the least for me.

30 min Credit ranking the put it’s due, the LAFC fans in the encourage of the goal are making an are trying to present this rather of atmosphere. I continuously revel in seeing football tradition in assorted nations, and it’s correct to stare the rainbow flag waving, likewise the LAFC sombreros.

29 min Cucurella, inverting, finds Palmer who strikes out to Neto – he’s been collected to this level – and though his substandard is discouraged, he’s soon encourage in possession, beating Bouanga and crossing the encourage put up, the put Madueke heads vast.

26 min Simon Carson explains the bottom procure: “It’s for the reason that NFL squads are so abundant (50+ gamers of regularly abundant size) that the seating has to open bigger up, in any other case you wouldn’t have the selection to stare anything. After I went to stare a game at Twickenham a few years in the past, they blocked out the first few rows of the lower tier for the identical motive.”

That is nice, thanks – though I’m particular I’ve considered the identical thing in Europe, and no longer on the dwelling of the Barcelona Dragons.

25 min A discouraged effort from Bouanga who appears to curl in in the encourage of, however places intention too unheard of on the ball.

23 min LA smash, however a discouraged pass from Ordaz manner the attack breaks down, then James loses out to Delgado and Caicedo fouls Bouanga. That changed into once a tiny harsh – he stretched a leg around him and obtained the ball, however right here comes a free-kick 25 yards out, left of centre…

22 min The nook ends up with James, on the threshold, whose low shot is blocked.

21 min Over again Chelsea get Palmer, all yet again he steps internal, opening the angle for the curler, and this time he has a insecure, however a deflection sends the ball over the bar.

20 min What is it with these grounds which non-public lower tiers starting two metres or more above pitch-stage? The level of going to the match is to be occupied with it, and this intentionally making things less intense. I don’t procure it.