Club World Cup: Giroud and Lloris could do nothing, Los Angeles beaten from the start by Chelsea
This Monday evening, the American club, where the French players Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud play, was beaten by Chelsea (2-0)
Chelsea comfortably defeated Los Angeles FC, led by Frenchmen Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud (2-0) in their opening match of the Club World Cup on Monday in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Olivier Giroud, 38, a former Blues striker (2018-2021), relished before the tournament the "opportunity" offered to his club and the MLS to "showcase the quality of the North American championship" against European powerhouses.
In a match played at a very slow pace and in a stadium that sounded hollow, a Chelsea team at the end of its tether after a long European season still displayed its superiority over LAFC, in the middle of the American season. The Blues were able to make the difference with the acceleration of their attackers, who were too quick for the LAFC white and gold defense.
Hugo Lloris saved a shot from Nicolas Jackson (5th) and then another from Moises Caicedo (17th) before losing to Pedro Neto (34th). The Portuguese winger scored a fine goal: found in depth by Jackson, he made a terrible hook to eliminate Ryan Hollingshead, condemned to an interminable slide, before a left-footed cross shot to the bottom right of the goal.
Neto missed out on a brace in first-half injury time with a heavy shot that hit the top of the bar. After the break, Malo Gusto came on for Chelsea and Giroud for Los Angeles, although the latter had to wait for his shirt to arrive, delaying the whistle for a few minutes.
The Angelenos were a little more enterprising with Daniel Martinez (51st) then Denis Bouanga, whose shot after a long ball and a duel won against Neto was deflected by Robert Sanchez (57th). Cole Palmer, who often wandered between the LAFC players, finally found the substitute Liam Delap on the wing: the new Blues striker, in his first match, provided an assist on a cross to Enzo Fernandez for the second goal scored from close range (80th).
Christopher Nkunku came on in the 84th minute but didn't have time to shine for Chelsea. The other Group D match, between Brazilian side Flamengo and Esperance Tunis, will take place later in the day (Tuesday, 3:00 a.m. French time).
lefigaro
