Pedro Neto left his marker on the floor with a dazzling run and turn to score Chelsea’s first goal of the 2025 Club World Cup with the opener against Los Angeles FC in Atlanta on Monday.
Portugal winger Neto surged on to Nicolas Jackson’s perceptive pass in the right-hand channel, entered the box and produced a beautiful Cruyff turn to throw marker Ryan Hollingshead off balance.
The £54 million signing before the start of last season then fired coolly past Tottenham legend Hugo Lloris at the goalkeeper’s near post, giving dominant Chelsea the lead in style in the 34th minute at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Neto’s GOLAZO deserves a look from all angles! 🔥➡️
Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every game. Free. | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #CHELAF pic.twitter.com/PLelC5vSUz
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 16, 2025
Pedro Neto goal vs LAFC: ‘Real quality’
“You have possession, you think you’re OK, you’re open and you get over-confident,” former Tottenham and Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown told Channel 5, analysing the MLS side’s setback.
“[Marc] Cucurella nicks it and then the ball in behind is key. [Neto’s] got options either side but decides to go near post.
“The touch is perfect and the awareness… off he goes celebrating, with a real quality finish. There’s a real aura about his play and the finish tells you everything about what he’s got.”
Chelsea vs Los Angeles FC: James booked
The Premier League club dominated the first half, Lloris stopping Noni Madueke’s shot from inside the box after the England international broke through as part of an incisive interchange with Nicolas Jackson before Neto’s goal.
There was a moment to forget for Reece James, though, when the right-back was booked for a seemingly minor foul on LAFC dangerman Denis Bouanga, with Venezuelan referee Jesus Valenzuela’s decision clearly mystifying the Three Lions wideman.
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“He goes to go tight,” said Brown. “Does he make any contact with his foot? Is it reckless, does he go to ground?
“There’s a slight little bit with the left hand coming out, which is what you’re supposed to do so nobody gets the other side of you.
“To lose the foul and to receive a yellow card – the shock tells you how much he didn’t agree with that decision.”
Commentator Rich Wolfenden said Valenzuela “didn’t seem too close” to the incident. “It was a coming together,” he added.
“The yellow card [seems] especially [harsh] – it was going out for a corner or goal kick but it wasn’t going to be an opportunity.”
How to watch Chelsea v LAFC: Live stream, TV channel
Free live coverage of the game, which kicked off at 20:00 BST, is on Channel 5.
A highlights and analysis show, The Press, will be presented by James Alcott and Julien Laurens and analyse each day’s games on 5’s streaming service.
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Chelsea Fifa Club World Cup 2025 fixtures, schedule, results
Here’s when and where Chelsea play each of their initial rivals.
Monday, June 16
Chelsea vs LAFC (Atlanta)
Friday, June 20
Flamengo vs Chelsea (Philadelphia, 19:00)
Wednesday, June 25
Esperance vs Chelsea (Philadelphia, 02:00)
Chelsea Club World Cup knockout stage path
Chelsea will be eliminated from the Club World Cup if they finish outside of the top two in their group. Otherwise, they will advance to a last-16 match against a team from Group C, which contains Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors and Benfica.
That game will be on Saturday, June 28 and take place in Charlotte at 21:00 if they are runners-up in their group or be held on Sunday, June 29 in Miami at 21:00 if they win their section.
Should they reach the quarter-finals, Chelsea will face a team from Group A – Palmeiras, Al-Ahly, Porto or Inter Miami – or Group B, which features Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo and Seattle Sounders.
That game will take place on Saturday, July 5 in Philadelphia at 02:00 if they are runners-up or in Atlanta at 17:00 if they win their group.
Their semi-final will be in New Jersey, taking place at 20:00 on Tuesday, July 8 if they are runners-up or at the same time on Wednesday, July 9 if they win their group.
The final is also in New Jersey at 20:00 on Sunday, July 13.
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Chelsea Club World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Filip Jorgensen, Mike Penders, Robert Sanchez, Gaga Slonina
Defenders: Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, Aaron Anselmino, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Malo Gusto, Reece James, Mamadou Sarr
Midfielders: Moises Caicedo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Dario Essugo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, Andrey Santos
Forwards: Liam Delap, Tyrique George, Marc Guiu, Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer
