Chelsea began their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday. However, the match was marred by a disappointing attendance, with swathes of empty seats visible in the 71,000-capacity stadium. Just 22,137 fans were present to witness the Blues' victory, highlighting concerns about ticket sales for the expanded 32-team tournament.
Pedro Neto opened the scoring for Chelsea in the 34th minute, latching onto a perfectly weighted pass from Nicolas Jackson. Neto expertly cut inside and fired a low shot into the bottom corner, giving former Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris no chance. Chelsea dominated possession in the first half, with Lloris making smart saves to deny Jackson and Noni Madueke earlier in the match.
LAFC showed more attacking intent in the second half, requiring Robert Sanchez to make a couple of important saves. However, Chelsea secured the win when Enzo Fernandez scored from close range after a fine cross from debutant Liam Delap. Delap, a recent signing from Ipswich, made an immediate impact, showcasing his potential with an assist.
Despite the victory, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged that there were aspects of the performance that needed improvement. He stated, "Very good result. At this stage of the season it's also normal that you have to manage different kinds of things. Overall I think the performance has been good and we won the game."
The underwhelming attendance was a major talking point. The match took place on a Monday afternoon, which likely contributed to the low turnout. Also, the large distance that LAFC fans had to travel could be another contributing factor. FIFA had anticipated a crowd of around 26,000, but the actual attendance fell significantly short. The stadium's top tier was closed, and the bottom tier was noticeably empty, creating a subdued atmosphere.
Chelsea's victory marked a positive start to their Club World Cup journey. They are in Group D alongside LAFC, ES Tunis, and Flamengo. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Round of 16. Chelsea qualified for the tournament by winning the 2021 UEFA Champions League. Enzo Fernandez expressed his excitement about participating in the Club World Cup, emphasizing its global importance and the opportunity to represent Chelsea on a worldwide stage.
The Blues will continue their Club World Cup campaign against ES Tunis and Flamengo, hoping to build on this win and secure a place in the knockout stages. While the victory over LAFC was a step in the right direction, Chelsea will be aiming for improved performances and, hopefully, a more vibrant atmosphere in their upcoming matches.
