Chelsea 2-0 Los Angeles result - Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez fire Blues to win in Club World Cup Group D opener; Liam Delap marks bow with assist

New signing Liam Delap came off the bench to provide an assist as Chelsea got their Club World Cup campaign underway with a 2-0 victory over LAFC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Blues were dominant throughout the first half and took the lead on 34 minutes when Pedro Neto polished off a fine solo run with a low shot beyond Hugo Lloris at his near post.

LAFC improved in the second period and Robert Sanchez pulled off an excellent save to deny Denis Bouanga an equaliser.

Enzo Maresca then handed £30m new boy Delap a debut off the bench just past the hour and he gave a positive cameo of his pace and power leading the line before teeing up fellow substitute Enzo Fernandez to seal the win 11 minutes from time.

Next up, Chelsea face Flamengo on Friday while Los Angeles meet Es Tunis.

Speaking on DAZN, Enzo Maresca gave a short post-match interview.

"Very good result," he said.

"Overall, the performance has been good and we won the game."

On new boy Liam Delap's cameo and if he had been showing good signs in training too, he added: "Absolutely. The good thing about Liam, is he knows the way we want to play, so the process is quite quick [getting him to adapt to Chelsea's style]."

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Chelsea 2-0 LAFC.

It was almost three right at the death but Neto's 25-yarder hit the bar on the way over!

Three minutes added.

Palencia booked.

The Argentine looks to have sealed the win for Chelsea.

Marlon and Yeboah on.

Delgado and Tillman off.

Caicedo and Palmer off.

Nkunku and Essugo on.

The MLS side almost pull one back straight away as Dénis Bouanga nicks the ball off Gusto, beats another and then forces Sanchez into a smart save as he fell stretching to hit the shot.

Igor Jesus off, Frankie Amaya on.

Fernandez takes down Delap's lovely cross from the right and buries a close-range shot beyond the 'keeper.

Chelsea breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Martinez sees a goal-bound shot deflect away before Timothy Tillman stabs wide on the stretch at the far post.

It wouldn't have counted had Tillman netted as he was offside, but the initial attack caused panic stations in that Blues rearguard.

Cucurella booked for a foul on Martinez.

Ryan Hollingshead wins the ball and travels into a central area 30-yards out. No challenge is incoming so he takes aim and rifles a fine effort just over the top.

Delap spins in-behind to chase Palmer's pass in the inside-right channel. The striker burns off his man and cuts it back from the byline, but Fernandez is blocked as he looked to fire home from 10 yards.

The Blues keep the pressure on from the corner but Palmer blazes over after a neat move sent him free on the right side of the box.

LAFC have been much-improved while Chelsea continue to play within themselves at times.

Liam Delap comes on for his Blues debut.

The striker comes on for Jackson.

George is also on for Madueke.

Martinez booked for catching Cucurella with a stray arm.

Dénis Bouanga rampages after a long ball, shrugs aside Neto but fires too close to Sanchez who blocks away a big opportunity with his feet.