Chelsea did just enough to secure a 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC in their FIFA Club World Cup opener, thanks to a stunning goal from Pedro Neto and a late strike from Enzo Fernández.

More than two weeks after lifting the Europa Conference League trophy in Wrocław against Real Betis, the Blues returned to action and claimed a solid—if not spectacular—victory over the MLS side. The American league continues to struggle in the tournament, with Inter Miami drawing 0-0, Seattle Sounders losing, and LAFC falling on Monday—highlighting the evident gap between MLS and the top tiers of global football.

At the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, which was noticeably under capacity with hundreds of empty seats in the stands, Chelsea at least looked like they were taking the tournament seriously. Enzo Maresca’s side came out aggressively, with Cole Palmer particularly sharp. Chelsea created several chances early on but lacked clinical finishing—Noni Madueke, a frequent culprit in the Premier League, missed a few clear opportunities before Neto opened the scoring.

 All Goals From Chelsea vs LAFC in the FIFA Club World Cup