Chelsea – Los Angeles FC: Blues Start Club World Cup Campaign On A Positive Note (2-0)

Chelsea started their Club World Cup campaign with a positive 2-0 result against Los Angeles FC. Goals from Pedro Neto in the first half and Enzo Fernandez in the second half gave the Blues a vital 2-0 opening game win over Los Angeles FC at the Mercedes Benz Stadium as they began their Club World Cup campaign in fine fashion.

Tactical analysis and match report by Gaurav Krishnan.

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There’s been much said about the Club World Cup in the media & press but despite the lack of numbers filling up stadiums to capacity, something that to the Boca Juniors fan base would argue otherwise, it’s still a very interesting proposition seeing clubs from around the world battle it out against European heavyweights for the trophy. The Club World Cup has drawn mixed reception from critics and pundits alike, however, it’s a great platform for clubs from around the world to showcase their abilities against Europe’s elite & an opportunity for fans across borders to watch their teams battle it out against the best clubs in the world.

New cup initiatives take time to settle into the football cup competition landscape. As veteran journalist Jonathan Wilson writes on his blog, looking back at history, even the World Cup in its infancy drew modest crowds & intrigue which slowly built up over the decades. It’s the same with this format & cup mooted by FIFA, so it’s certain that the Club World Cup will only grow from this first edition of the competition.

It’s certainly been a season that ended on a high for Chelsea in Enzo Maresca’s first full season in charge. The Blues sealed UEFA Champions League qualification in the Premier League by finishing fourth last season and got their hands on the Conference League trophy to cap off their season with a cup win becoming the first club to win all top European cup honours. It was a non-negotiable for Maresca to qualify for the Champions League and he duly delivered along with a cup win to finish the season off in in style.

Going into this summer’s Club World Cup, there have been some changes to Maresca’s squad although the core has stayed largely the same. The Blues wasted no time in signing a center-forward in Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap early in the transfer window followed by a flurry of top young talent joining the squad. Chelsea arguably have entered this Club World Cup stronger than last season with their new recruits & the squad having a full season to gel & work together under Maresca’s blueprint.

Los Angeles FC find themselves in 5th place in this season’s MLS and went into this game against Chelsea as underdogs. However, they put in a spirited performance against the Blues on the night. They created a few openings but failed to take their chances.


Chelsea on the other hand barely got out of third gear but created several openings. By the end of the game, the Blues had 17 shots on the LAFC goal and dominated possession with 65% of the ball compared to LAFC’s 35%.

Enzo Maresca fielded Chelsea in a 4-2-3-1 shape. Robert Sanchez started in goal with a back four of Reece James at right-back, Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill and center-back and Marc Cucurella at left-back. The double pivot was anchored by Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo. Pedro Neto started at right-wing with Noni Madueke and left-wing and Cole Palmer through the middle with Nicolas Jackson leading the line as the lone striker.

Steve Cherundolo started LAFC in a 4-3-3 formation. Hugo Lloris started in goal with a back four of Sergi Palencia at right-back, Aaron Long and Eddie Segura at center-back and Ryan Hollingshead at left-back. The midfield three comprised Igor Jesus, Timothy Tillman, and Marky Delgado while the front three lined up with Denis Bouanga on the left, Nathan Ordaz on the right and Jeremy Ebobisse through the middle as the central striker.

Early Openings For Chelsea

It was perhaps a case of being jaded from their exploits last season that led to Chelsea starting this game a bit slowly. The opening exchanges of the first fifteen minutes were rather tepid as both sides didn’t create any clear cut openings. Chelsea had more of the ball as LAFC sat in their 4-4-2 OOP shape denying any clear openings for the Blues. However, the London club would slowly grow into the game soon after. Madueke and Palmer had a chance each with Maduke testing Lloris & Palmer blazing his curled effort over the bar as both Chelsea players failed to score.

Chelsea built up in their customary 3-2-5 shape. Reece James tucked into the back three as Cucurella ventured higher up inverting into midfield. Meanwhile the double pivot of Caicedo and Lavia were responsible for ball progression from central areas. LAFC’s press wasn’t very intense & Chelsea had time to pick their passes. Noni Madueke & Pedro Neto hugged the touchline, exploiting 1 v 1 matchups against the LAFC full backs. Jackson pinned LAFC’s center-backs, creating space for Palmer to operate in the half-spaces.

Chelsea’s build-up relied on progressing vertically through the pivot. Lavia was crucial for Chelsea’s build-up in the second phase. With his press-resistant ball-playing ability, he acted as the primary ball progressor from midfield while Caicedo’s dynamic runs disrupted LAFC’s midfield press.

Most accurate passer for either Chelsea or LA FC to player 45+ minutes was Romeo Lavia (97%). pic.twitter.com/vvrmfIz4L6

— Mozo Football (@MozoFootball) June 16, 2025

The box midfield of Cucurella, Lavia, Caicedo & Palmer facilitated rotations, with Palmer often dropping to receive and turn, linking with Neto or Madueke. Chelsea’s dominance of possession (65.3%) was a direct result of this structured build-up, in which the Blues created 17 shots, 6 on target through the game.

Meanwhile, Maresca targeted LAFC’s right flank where Palencia was isolated. Madueke’s direct dribbling and Cucurella’s underlapping or overlapping runs overloaded Palencia creating a 2 v 1 constantly, forcing LAFC’s midfielders to cover, which opened central gaps & space for Palmer and Jackson.

Minute 4’ Chelsea’s 3-2-5 and Cucurella and Madueke creating a 2 v 1 against Palencia. Chelsea build up in a 3-2-5 as Madueke advances with the ball against Palencia while Cucurella makes an overlapping run behind Palencia. Madueke combines with Jackson who has a shot but it’s tame and saved by Lloris.

Jackson & Neto Carve LAFC Open

LAFC targeted Chelsea’s right flank, aimed at exploiting gaps left by James when he ventured forward. The Los Angeles outfit relied on building centrally with a low block, then switching to Bouanga on the left. However, their 4-4-1-1 in possession lacked fluidity, as Chelsea’s mid-block cut off passing options to Tillman and Delgado, forcing long balls of which the Los Angeles club averaged only a 28% completion rate.

Bouanga was LAFC’s primary outlet in attack, with his dribbling and pace aimed at isolating James. However, James held firm and Tosin’s covering and Lavia’s tracking back neutralized Bouanga, who managed only 1 shot on target all through the game while Ordaz struggled against Cucurella’s aggressive defending, limiting LAFC’s wing threat.

The decisive move of the game came for the Blues came in the 34th minute. Nicolas Jackson had dropped deep & spun his marker to play a delightful pin-point through ball for Pedro Neto in between the LAFC defensive lines. Neto subsequently obliged & capitalised on Jackson’s pass. The Portuguese winger left LAFC’s Hollingshead on the deck after a sharp turn and finished at the near post despite being slightly off balance.

Neto’s goal made it 1-0 to Chelsea with ten minutes plus added time of the first half to play.

Minute 34’ Chelsea’s opening goal. Palmer plays it to Jackson in a crowded midfield position in the center of the pitch. Jackson spins his markers & plays a brilliant through ball for Neto. Neto advances into the box & cuts inside deceiving Hollingshead & fires a low shot into the near post bottom corner. 1-0 Chelsea.

Maresca’s Substitutions As Delap Impresses On Debut

Enzo Maresca wasted no time in ringing in the changes as he made his substitutions early into the second half. Meanwhile, former Chelsea and Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud also came off the bench for LAFC. Malo Gusto came on for Reece James and Enzo Fernandez for Lavia in the 46th minute. The game progressed with Enzo dictating the tempo & spraying passes from his midfield position.

Out of possession, LAFC dropped into a 4-4-2 mid-block, with Bouanga and Martinez who came on for Ordaz tucking in as wide midfielders, Giroud and Tillman pressing as a front two, and Igor Jesus and Delgado screening the back four. In a low block, they shifted to a 4-5-1 at times against Chelsea’s attacking build up.

Soon after in the 64th minute, Maresca brought on Tyrique George for Noni Madueke and Chelsea new recruit Liam Delap for Nicolas Jackson. Delap was in the thick of things almost immediately as he battled the LAFC center-backs and shoved Aaron Long off the ball. Delap’s movement was perhaps pivotal to Chelsea’s second-half goal threat. The combative striker almost teed up Enzo Fernandez after great work down the right channel showing strength to shrug off pressure but Enzo’s shot was blocked. The pair would combine again in the 84th minute as Palmer released Delap who had made a run down the right channel again. Delap’s perfectly chipped cross found Enzo who had made a run in from midfield and the Argentine midfielder made no mistake by latching on to the cross and slotting it in to make 2-0 to Chelsea on the night.

Liam Delap registered 2 big chance creations, 2 ball recoveries & 1 assist with just 14 touches for Chelsea against LAFC after entering the pitch off the bench. Sharp #ClubWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Y1yi27Bcex

— Statocaster Gaurav (@statocastgaurav) June 18, 2025

In general Delap’s movement was an encouraging sign for Chelsea fans. He seems to have a lot in his locker and his movement mirrored that of a natural number nine, something the Blues have needed up front. By then it was too late for LAFC to stage a comeback.

Maresca’s 3-2-5 in possession on the night overwhelmed LAFC’s press and their defensive set up, with the box midfield’s rotations creating constant overloads. Chelsea’s mid-block pressing, led by Palmer and Lavia, disrupted LAFC’s build-up, while Madueke & Neto’s wide threat exploited the LAFC full backs. The introduction of Delap and Fernandez added dynamism, with both players contributing to the second goal.

Apart from a couple of chances for David Martinez and Bouanga, LAFC didn’t create too many threatening openings. Martinez’s effort deflected off Giroud to go wide & Bouanga’s effort was saved by Robert Sanchez.

The game duly ended 2-0 to Chelsea as the Blues picked up a vital opening game win against their American opponents.

Takeaways

Chelsea’s 2-0 win over LAFC was Enzo Maresca tactically outplaying Cherundolo and his Los Angeles outfit. Chelsea’s structured 4-2-3-1 / 3-2-5 shape exploited LAFC’s defensive frailties and midfield weaknesses creating overloads & carving out several chances. Their dominance of possession, effective pressing, and clinical finishing, exemplified by Neto and Enzo Fernandez’s goals, secured a deserved victory.

For LAFC, despite moments of resilience, they were simply outclassed by the Blues, with Cherundolo’s direct approach and uncoordinated press unable to counter Chelsea’s fluidity. The match showcased Chelsea’s Club World Cup credentials and exposed areas for LAFC to address in future games. In the end, it was a vital opening game win for Maresca & Chelsea as they look to qualify for the latter stages of the Club World Cup.

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