Chelsea Win Despite Empty Seats at Club World Cup
Chelsea win despite empty seats at Club World Cup. The Blues kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 victory over LAFC, but it wasn’t in front of a packed house. Only 22,137 fans turned up at the 71,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, leaving the top tiers completely bare. Just a few years ago, the same venue hosted over 70,000 fans when Chelsea faced Newcastle in the Premier League’s Summer Series. This time, the atmosphere was noticeably quiet, but it didn’t stop Enzo Maresca’s men from grabbing three important points.
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Neto Strikes First in a Dominant Display
Pedro Neto gave Chelsea the lead in the 34th minute. He timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and finished neatly into the bottom corner after connecting with an excellent through-ball from Nicolas Jackson. The first half was largely controlled by Chelsea, who enjoyed plenty of possession and forced LAFC deep into their own half. Jackson and Noni Madueke both tested LAFC’s goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who had to be sharp early on.
Chelsea Push for More Goals
After the break, Chelsea continued to create chances. Neto almost turned provider with a dangerous cross that found Jackson, whose header was goal-bound but cleared off the line by Timothy Tillman. The American side had a few moments of their own, with Denis Bouanga delivering a cross that unsettled Robert Sanchez, and substitute David Martinez almost scoring—only for former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud to accidentally block his shot.
Fernandez Seals the Win Late On
Chelsea’s £30 million summer signing, Liam Delap, made his debut in the second half and wasted no time making an impact. His quick footwork and energy added a spark to Chelsea’s attack. In the 79th minute, he delivered a pinpoint ball into the box where fellow substitute Enzo Fernandez was ready to slot it home and double the lead. The late goal sealed the win for Chelsea, who leave Atlanta with a strong start to their Club World Cup journey, even if the crowd was sparse.
