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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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Kick-off: 3pm local, 8pm BST

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Key events

87 min Good from Chelsea, Delpa seizing a free ball and showing nice ft in flicking a chase for George, who finds Neto. He crosses to the again post, where a swish closing-ditch header from Palencia takes the ball faraway from the ready Nkunku.

85 min Martinez runs at Colwill, tries a injurious to the again post with the out of doors of his boot … and there’s too grand on it.

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

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

81 min Long ball over the pinnacle, Gusto gets nowhere come it, and Bouanga is onto it! He falls – however became he shoved? – then, from the ground, by some means perhaps well restful swivels into a shot … that Sanchez saves. Gusto is lucky, because there became contact that made a disagreement, when he became nowhere come the ball.

No longer from now on they’re not! Palmer rolls down the facet of the LA defence for Delap, who crosses successfully, and, bursting into the field, Fernandez controls along with his body on the bustle, then hammers home from shut fluctuate.

77 min Now Tillman sneaks at some level of the out of doors of Cucurella, stands up a injurious, and Gusto heads faraway from Giroud, simply, then Colwill taps away when Bouanga crosses, Martinez has a shot blocked and a ball to the some distance post is slid leisurely by Bouanga, restful there from the outdated effort … however he became offside. At 1-0, LAFC are restful bang in this.

76 min Delap bullocks into the field however Tillman gets in entrance of him and awaits the inevitable obnoxious. the recent boy is doing his simplest to ingratiate himself with the Chelsea make stronger.

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

73 min “Chelsea possess three world-class players in Caicedo, Cucurella and James (if he stays match of course),” reckons Julian Menz. “Palmer and Enzo are virtually there. Lavia isn’t too shabby either, and we’ve yet to perceive what an precise striker, Delap, can make to lend a hand the wingers. Now to not mention the arrival of Santos and Estevao. Too young simply now? Maybe. Doable contenders? Completely.”

I’m taking a see forward to seeing Estevao, however the others? Correct players, however a formula off the wonderful spherical in mine. Review them to, philosophize, Salah, Alisson and Van Dijk, or Kante, Hazard and Diego Costa.

72 min It’s a whereas since LA possess mustered a essential assault, however as I kind, Hollingshead finds himself in an developed speak down the left, he dashes at some level of a tame challenge from Gusto, shoots … and the ball whizzes over the pinnacle. Warning for Chelsea.

70 min Caicedo into Neto, who slips an attractive reverse-chase into the field for Palmer; he looks internal, love he’s going to injurious or perceive the some distance nook, wonderful to fade a make excessive, however over the pinnacle.

69 min Correct movement from Delap, one bustle for the defender and yet every other bustle for himself, so when the ball comes he has build to diddle Long on the out of doors, however his cut-again, attempting for Caicedo, is blocked.

67 min Bounaga is penalised for a obnoxious on Fernandez, he stos in entrance of the ball, and Cucurella kicks it into him attempting to derive him booked. “No want for that,” moralises Michael Brown.

66 min Chelsea unfold to George, who lays again for Fernandez … and his roller is blocked.

65 min Delap celebrates that debut by ostentatiously pushing Long over. Kerry Dixon will be kvelling.

64 min Two extra changes for Chelsea: off chase Madueke, who marks the event with a pair of snot rockets, and Jackson, with George and Delap coming on, the latter for his Chelsea debut.

63 min Martinez whacks Cucurella at some level of the calves – that’s extra of a reserving than the shove for which he became booked – kicks the ball away, and the ref offers him what should be a closing warning.

62 min This time, the nook goes into the field, winding up with gusto over the some distance facet; he crosses and Jackson heads huge.

61 min Palmer pulls simply and beats a pair of men by sliding a chase between them for Jackson, whose return is depressed. Nonetheless he collects it on the other hand, nips out of doors Palencia, and his shot is blocked leisurely.

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

57 min Long, browsing ball over the pinnacle and Bouanga is goal-facet of Neto! And he does beautifully to withhold him off too, then looks to sweep his shot internal the come post – not the make Sanchez is waiting for, however one which it’s more uncomplicated to assign … and he does, stretching out a foot. That became a terribly factual probability.

56 min “Invoice doesn’t sound a actually neatly-liked touring fan,” laments Tim Stappard. “A contented medium would be colossal. Craven Cottage presumably?”

Some severely menacing prices in the hostelries spherical that formula.

55 min The 2d nook additionally goes rapid, coming to nowt.

54 min It goes rapid to Palmer, who finds Neto, who teases a delectable ball towards the some distance post, where Jackson is up … however his header flicks a defender and goes leisurely.

fifty three min Chelsea chase straight again on the assault with Colwill turning up on the left trip to secure a nook.

51 min Nonetheless here they arrive again, Martinez space towards Cucurella and slowing him down, then nipping off on his out of doors wonderful to hunt out he’s too off-balance to make the leisure as opposed to screw a shot huge of the come post. Aloof, though, that’s encouraging for LA – Martinez, wonderful 19, looks love he’s bought a microscopic one thing.

51 min Good from LA, who salvage Martinez out of doors the field, simply of centre; he dips internal, tries a roller, and the ball hits Giroud and flies leisurely.

50 min Aesthetic from Neto, who attracts Hollingshead in, scalds him on the out of doors … and could possibly well well’t salvage Jackson along with his cut-again.

Forty eight min How some distance will we predict Chelsea are from a credible title challenge? It’s wonderful in actuality, given what quantity of money they’ve spent, that the doubtlessly appropriate reply is “very”. There are, of course, many methods to convey, however customarily speaking the facet that wins it has not not up to three players amongst the wonderful on this planet of their speak; make Chelsea possess any?

46 min He’ll possess gone off, however I belief the LA followers possess a music for Ebobisse to this banger:

46 min We chase again…

Giroud is just not any longer topless. He’d forgotten his shirt, however a teammate fetches it for him and he replaces Ebobisse.

I in actual fact possess a Giroud story, which I’ve seemingly relayed sooner than, however here we chase: I became in the discotheque and saw him in the loo; the attendant goes “Oi, you’re … you’re …” so Olivier Giroud offers “Olivier Giroud?”. “Yeah, that’s simply,” consents the attendant, at which level hilarious me intejects “You’ll want to possibly well convey because he’s taking a see in the replicate adjusting his hair.”

Oh how they laughed.

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

Half-time e-mail: “Americanized stadiums not a patch on the factual frail days at Roker Park, The Den etc? I dunno,” muses Invoice. “I became pissed on by the dwelling followers at Loftus Aspect freeway, the away followers at Portman Aspect freeway, attacked by West Ham followers on the frail Wembley. Lend a hand to the 80s? No thanks!”

There completely exists a contented medium.

Half-time leisure:

Fair a microscopic of a space-to to full the half, Bounaga and Neto sharing sentiments once the whistle goes with varied others getting, er, in and spherical them. Nonetheless the ref intercedes and off each person trots.

Forty five+2 min Jackson, the wonderful player on the pitch to this level, finds Madueke, whose injurious sails formula beyond the some distance post.

Forty five+1 min We’ll possess one extra minute; Bouanga 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, simply of centre.

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

It will possibly perhaps well simply be a dream. This in actuality took speak to me at lord’s on Wednesday, when my eyes possess been feeling heavy and I became simply livid about resting them, then Steve Smith bought himself out to Aiden Markram and I wasn’t certain if it became reverie or truth.

41 min There’s no sense LA possess the wherewithal to derive again into this, however as lengthy because it’s 1-0, they’ve a raffle. And here they arrive now, Martinez to Palencia, whose early injurious is nodded again into the middle by Bouanga, however Ebobisse slips.

39 min The ref cam is a pleasing innovation – it offers us a terribly factual sense of the physicality and scurry of things.

38 min Ordaz goes off, then Bouanga curls the free-kick into the middle and Sanchez flicks leisurely; Martinez then comes on.

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

36 min A lengthy kick-out from Lloris items Bouanga at James, who leaps into a challenge, misses the ball, catches Bounaga along with his body, and is booked. Naturally, Michael Brown, in co-comms, thinks it’s swish, however LA possess a free-kick a yard or two from the by-line, between nook flag and field.

Right here’s beautifully taken. Again, Jackson does in actuality successfully, taking the ball after Cucurella wins it and slithering along the halfway line sooner than setting Neto away. His first contact is depressed, taking him down the line in preference to towards goal, however a an attractive chop internal, sending Hollingshead off to Chick-respect-A, opens the entire lot, and he lashes a make internal the come post to space Chelsea away.

31 min “I saw NUFC play Chelsea in the Mercedes Benz Stadium in 2023,” advises Reuven Fletcher. “It’s a terribly impressive speak, if that’s your vogue of element, the formula forward for prime flight ‘match-day expertise’ because it becomes increasingly extra Americanised and commodified. Elephantine of rapid food chain engaging locations and American citizens in the shirts of facets not collaborating int he game (Arsenal, Man Metropolis etc) as they wished in on the Premier League expertise. Some very friendly Atalanta Fans who had come along to make stronger Migeul Almiron, who became at NUFC then, asked if they should make stronger Newcastle. I said simply stick with your crew, it’s adequate.

Give me Filbert Avenue, Roker Park, The Baseball Ground and the threat of a hiding on the Outdated Den any day over Chick-respect-A etc personally.”

I agree – intensity and involvement are some distance extra crucial than perceive-strains and legroom, not not up to for me.

30 min Credit rating where it’s due, the LAFC followers leisurely the goal are attempting to offer this a microscopic ambiance. I constantly respect seeing soccer custom in various international locations, and it’s factual to perceive the rainbow flag waving, likewise the LAFC sombreros.

29 min Cucurella, inverting, finds Palmer who moves out to Neto – he’s been mild to this level – and though his injurious is depressed, he’s soon again in possession, beating Bouanga and crossing the again post, where Madueke heads huge.

26 min Simon Carson explains the ground derive: “It’s because the NFL squads are so colossal (50+ players of customarily substantial dimension) that the seating has to initiate better up, otherwise you wouldn’t be ready to perceive the leisure. When I went to perceive a game at Twickenham a pair of years previously, they blocked out the first few rows of the decrease tier for a comparable motive.”

That is good, thanks – though I’m certain I’ve viewed the same element in Europe, and not on the dwelling of the Barcelona Dragons.

25 min A depressing effort from Bouanga who looks to curl in leisurely, however puts formula too grand on the ball.

23 min LA rupture, however a depressed chase from Ordaz methodology the assault breaks down, then James loses out to Delgado and Caicedo fouls Bouanga. That became a microscopic bit harsh – he stretched a leg spherical him and won the ball, however here comes a free-kick 25 yards out, left of centre…

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

21 min Again Chelsea salvage Palmer, again he steps internal, opening the angle for the roller, and this time he has a anxious, however a deflection sends the ball over the bar.

20 min What’s it with these grounds which possess decrease tiers starting two metres or extra above pitch-stage? The level of going to the match is to be all for it, and this deliberately making things less intense. I don’t derive it.