MASON MOUNT scored a peach of a strike in Las Vegas to spare the blushes of pal Reece James after his comical personal aim.
Within the Blues’ first conflict of pre-season towards Mexican outfit Membership America, a poor first half was adopted by a Timo Werner’s opener simply after the break.
4
4
4
Nevertheless, defender James – contemporary off the bench – was left red-faced on the hour mark as his over-hit pass-back caught out Marcus Bettinelli on his personal line.
Mount – one other half time sub – picked up the items and curled a magnificence into the underside nook with seven minutes remaining.
Boss Thomas Tuchel picked a comparatively robust line-up, however might have angered a number of the travelling followers with two notable absences.
Summer season signings Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly – for a mixed complete of £85m – weren’t named within the squad.
Sterling had arrived in Los Angeles – their first pit-stop within the States – on Tuesday evening after finishing a medical in London following the 27-year-old’s transfer from Manchester Metropolis.
Koulibaly, 31, additionally flew out after a medical, this time to Las Vegas, on Friday evening – however neither had been deemed prepared sufficient to be included on the bench.
Regular starter in aim Edouard Mendy additionally sat this one out, in addition to Billy Gilmour, whereas the injured Armando Broja was not risked.
Kepa began in aim, Conor Gallagher was paired with Ross Barkley in midfield with Kai Havertz main the road.
Ben Chilwell made his first look in a Chelsea shirt for eight months after a knee damage he suffered in November final 12 months.
Marcos Alonso, Cesar Azpilicueta, Reece James, Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic, Michy Batshuayi and Werner had been amongst these on the bench.
Membership America got here into this one having already began their home league marketing campaign, successful one in all their opening three video games.
Hakim Ziyech had an early free-kick well-saved by veteran Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, however that was a uncommon second in a half missing any high quality.
Brazilian winger Kenedy, who has made one Premier League look in his final 5 years as a Blues participant, was particularly poor in a make-shift wing-back place.
But he sprung into life within the 23rd minute with a whipped effort that grazed the submit earlier than Membership America went shut with an identical effort.
Gallagher’s interception then noticed him play in Havertz just for the German to fluff his shot over the bar, and Thiago Silva’s header was tipped over by Ochoa.
4
Tuchel made the total 11 modifications for the second half, together with the introduction of Jorginho and Emerson, regardless of the very fact they weren’t initially named on the subs bench.
With Emerson performed as an unorthodox central defender, Jorginho and Pulisic made immediate impacts with a shot every on course within the opening jiffy.
Within the fifty fifth minute, Jorginho then discovered James out broad, whose cross was bundled dwelling by Werner on the second try.
But 5 minutes later, James went from hero to zero as his pass-back underneath no stress dribbled over the road.
Chelsea pushed for a winner to no avail, with Pulisic coming closest via a wayward header.
Up subsequent for Tuchel’s males is a conflict towards Charlotte FC on Wednesday earlier than dealing with Arsenal in Orlando on Saturday.
TEAM (3-4-3) Kepa; Chalobah, Silva, Sarr; Hudson-Odoi, Barkley, Gallagher, Chilwell; Ziyech, Havertz, Kenedy
SUBS: Bettinelli, Alonso, Ampadu, Azpilicueta, James, Mount, Pulisic, Batshuayi, Werner, Jorginho, Emerson
MISSING: Mendy, Koulibaly, Sterling, Gilmour, Broja
