Delap Opens His Chelsea Account in Sizzling Philadelphia
In scorching heat at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, Chelsea secured a confident 3-0 victory over Espérance, confirming their place in the Club World Cup last 16. Despite the tough weather conditions, Enzo Maresca’s side showed composure and control, with Liam Delap scoring his first goal for the club.
Maresca rotated his squad heavily, but the second string delivered, giving Chelsea a smoother path forward—even if they progressed as Group D runners-up behind Flamengo.
Delap Strikes, Chelsea Breathe Easy
Chelsea’s new striker Liam Delap marked his arrival in style, scoring with a composed finish just before halftime. His movement and timing showed promise, and Maresca’s belief in the young forward appears to be well-placed.
“We expected the process with Liam to be quick because we already know each other,” Maresca explained post-match. “He’s a very good player, and he fits what we need.”
The goal doubled Chelsea’s lead after Tosin Adarabioyo’s clever header opened the scoring during first-half stoppage time. By then, Chelsea had taken control of the match, even if early signs weren’t encouraging.
Early Jitters in Testing Conditions
The game began slowly, perhaps due to 35°C heat and high humidity, which had made pre-match training nearly impossible. Chelsea looked sluggish in the first 10 minutes, with Espérance exploiting defensive gaps. Right-back Malo Gusto had to sprint back to stop Elias Mokwana, and Yan Sasse nearly punished an opening on the opposite flank.
Eventually, Chelsea settled. Christopher Nkunku, making his first start since April, linked well with Delap. Enzo Fernández and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall joined the attacking efforts, but early chances went begging. Still, Chelsea grew stronger as halftime neared.
Nkunku Returns, Madueke Impresses
While Nkunku’s role remains uncertain, he drifted into dangerous areas and contributed well in possession. He wasn’t clinical, but his understanding of space offered glimpses of potential value if he remains at the club this summer.
Noni Madueke, however, was Chelsea’s standout attacker in the first half. Sharp, direct, and inventive, he stretched Espérance’s defense and set the tone for the team’s attacking rhythm.
Second-Half Cruise, Bench Gets Minutes
With a 2-0 cushion, Chelsea were in full control after the break. Madueke and Nkunku had near misses, while substitutes Tyrique George and Marc Guiu tested goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said. Eventually, George scored Chelsea’s third—though the goal owed more to a goalkeeping blunder than striking brilliance. Ben Said misjudged George’s powerful long-range effort, letting the ball slip past him to seal the scoreline.
Andrey Santos finally made a late appearance, almost earning a penalty after his shot struck a defender’s arm. However, a VAR review overturned the decision. It didn’t matter—Chelsea were through and earned £7 million in prize money along the way.
Benfica Up Next, Bayern Dodged
Despite finishing second in their group, Chelsea’s draw worked in their favor. They avoided Bayern Munich, who will now face Flamengo after a shock 1-0 loss to Benfica.
Chelsea’s next opponent is Benfica in Charlotte—a strong side with Champions League pedigree. Maresca, though, isn’t looking too far ahead. “We’re thinking one game at a time,” he said. “Our goal now is the quarter-finals.”
With Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Levi Colwill, Pedro Neto, and Reece James rested, Chelsea head into the knockout phase refreshed and ready.
Stay tuned to Maple Wire for more Club World Cup updates and exclusive football coverage.
