Chelsea’s pre-season tour of America kicked off with our first game of the trip and goals from Timo Werner and Mason Mount earned us victory against Club America in Las Vegas.
The two half-time substitutes did the damage early and late in the second period, with the Mexicans leveling shortly after our German striker broke the deadlock with a close-range finish following a sharp move involving Jorginho and Reece James.
The latter was then involved in the Club America goal as he lost a reverse pass and saw it roll into our own net, although there was reason to celebrate until the final whistle as Mount won it with a spectacular strike.
The choice
The starting line-up selected by Thomas Tuchel was dominated by those players who returned from their summer break at the earliest that they did not feature in June’s internationals, with the exception of Conor Gallagher, Kai Havertz and Thiago Silva.
The latter captained the side in the middle of a back three flanked by Trevo Chalobah and Malang Sarr, while Ben Chilwell started his first game since picking up a six-month knee injury at the end of November and Kennedy lined up at opposite half-back.
In midfield, Conor Gallagher and Ross Barkley formed the central duo, while Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi supported Kai Havertz in attack. New signings Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly were not included.
Temperature measurement
Despite a few personnel changes since our last outing eight weeks ago to the day of the Premier League’s closing weekend, there was a familiar look on the sidelines that kicked off our opening match in the FC Series Clash of Nations 2022.
It was the usual 3-4-3 formation favored by Tuchel throughout his 18-month tenure in charge, making the most of the huge artificial pitch at Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and located at one end of the famous city strip.
The closed roof and temperature control offered protection from the 40C heat outside, with a severe thunderstorm also forecast for the Nevada Valley on Saturday night local time.
The raucous supporters of our Mexican rivals provided the stadium with a carnival atmosphere, although their one-goal yellow crowd was almost silenced early on when Ziech headed home a sweet free-kick from just inside the 18-yard box.
The winger took plenty of shots at a low shot, but veteran Las Aguilas goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa used all his 37 years of experience to read the danger and get low to push away the danger.
Kennedy approaches
Now three games into their Liga MX campaign, Club America clearly had the upper hand in terms of fitness and preparation. Around the 20 minute mark they enjoyed a brief spell of pressure, with Chilwell forced into a smart one-on-one defense at full-back.
From the resulting corner, Kepa headed over and then Kennedy came closest to opening moments later with bright play down the right.
The Brazilian advanced off the line and swooped dangerously onto his favored left foot before curling a ferocious shot inches wide of the far post.
High by Kai
Chances gradually underlined the measured pre-season atmosphere and teenager Mauricio Reyes was the next to go close, although his effort lacked the power or precision to trouble Kepa unnecessarily between the posts.
Then it was the turn of Havertz, so often a key figure in our efforts abroad, after some industrious play from Gallagher to cross, drive and play through a neat pass for the German, although his second-touch shot was too high.
Thiago Silva forced the best save of the first half from substitute keeper Oscar Jimenez after Ziech’s free-kick was thwarted by the Brazilian’s impressive flying save.
Werner’s immediate impact
It was a completely changed Chelsea line-up for the second half, with Christian Pulisic, Mount and Werner among those coming on for a fraction of the minutes. Pulisic and Mount tested Jimenez within moments of entering the fray, but it was Werner who struck the decisive blow to break the deadlock 10 minutes after play resumed.
The move for the goal was perhaps the best passage of the game as Jorginho flicked a lovely pass straight to James and the defender chested it down before cutting to the penalty spot where Werner was waiting.
Our number 10 was initially denied as his left-footed shot was clawed away, but quickly dispatched the rebound to send the Blues fans at the stadium into raptures.
Helping hand back
That lead didn’t last long, though, as Club America equalized within five minutes via a goal that came with more help from those in blue.
Some casual play on the edge of our pitch resulted in James playing a looping pass back to Marcus Bettinelli and the ball quickly flew over the turf and into the net.
Backed by their fans, who formed part of the 47,223 in the stadium, it might have been a platform for the Mexicans to push for a winner, but it was the Blues who had the next clear chance when Emerson found Pulisic’s run with a clever cross. However, the American international missed his header and it ended up behind the goal.
Mason wins it
Emerson then had to be alert with his defensive duties as he stepped in at the perfect time to thwart a direct attack before Chelsea’s winner arrived with seven minutes remaining thanks to Mount.
Collecting Marcos Alonso’s pass from the left, the England international got away cleverly to give himself some extra space on the edge of the box and then curled a beautiful shot beyond Jimenez’s dive into the far corner.
It was a fitting goal to win every game and ensured that instead of red or black, blue was the color in Vegas.
What next?
The Blues now fly across the States to the East Coast ahead of our next US pre-season friendly against Charlotte next week.
Chelsea, First Half (3-4-3) Arrizabalaga; Chalobah, Thiago Silva (c), Sar; Kennedy, Barkley, Gallagher, Chilwell; Ziyech, Havertz, Hudson-Odoi
Chelsea, second half (3-4-3) Bettinelli; Azpilicueta (c), Ampadu, Emerson; James, Mount, Jorginho, Alonso; Pulisic, Batshuayi, Werner
Scorers Werner 55; Install 83
Booked Gallagher 35; Werner 90+2
Club America (4-5-1) Ochoa (Jimenez 33); H. Sanchez, Valdes, Caceres, Reyes; Acuño, Dos Santos, Dame, Fidalgo, Layun; Martin (Valdez 62)
Subs Araujo, Fuentes, Lara, Campos, S. Martinez, Moreno, R. Sanchez, Zendejas, R. Martinez, Rodriguez
Top scorer James (Oga) 60
Reserved Damm 3; Acuño 27
Crowd 47,223
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