Liam Delap Shines on Debut as Chelsea Edges LAFC Amid Sparse Atlanta Crowd

Chelsea kicked off their Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC, but it was the sparse attendance at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium that raised more eyebrows than the final score. Despite the stadium’s 71,000-seat capacity, only 22,137 fans turned up, casting a noticeable shadow over what should have been a high-profile international fixture.

Amid the muted atmosphere, 21-year-old Liam Delap seized his chance to impress. Making his debut after a £30 million switch from Ipswich Town, Delap came off the bench in the 64th minute and immediately made his presence felt. His precise chipped cross from the right set up Enzo Fernandez for Chelsea’s second goal, a simple tap-in that underlined Delap’s vision and composure.

Earlier in the match, Pedro Neto gave Chelsea the lead with a sharp near-post finish after breaking free of the LAFC defense. But the Premier League side’s overall performance was described as laboured, as they struggled to break down a spirited LAFC side featuring World Cup winners Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris. The American team created several chances through Denis Bouanga and substitute David Martinez but lacked the finishing edge.

Delap’s 30-minute cameo was a bright spot. Picking up the ball 30 yards from goal, he drove directly at LAFC captain Aaron Long, almost carving out another assist for Fernandez in a move that highlighted his strength and direct style. His final contribution saw him dribble 25 yards through midfield before narrowly missing a second assist.

The surprisingly low turnout has sparked concern, especially with Atlanta set to host World Cup matches in 2026. Locals reportedly seemed unaware of the game, as attention was diverted by a Power Rangers convention and a UFC event. 

Additional factors like high ticket prices, scant local promotion, and a weekday 3pm kickoff contributed to the underwhelming crowd. This comes in stark contrast to Atlanta United’s MLS matches, which average over 44,000 fans, and Chelsea’s previous visit in 2022 when over 70,000 fans attended a friendly against Newcastle.

In other news, midfielder Dario Essugo also debuted for Chelsea, who continue their strong form with eight wins in their last nine outings, including their recent Conference League triumph.

Chelsea next face Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday, while LAFC will take on ES Tunis in Nashville. Both teams will wrap up Group D play next Tuesday.