MASON MOUNT scored a peach of a objective in Las Vegas to spare the blushes of pal Reece James after his comical personal objective.
Within the Blues’ opening conflict of pre-season in opposition to Mexican outfit Membership America, a poor first half was adopted by a Timo Werner strike simply after the break.
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Nonetheless, 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 an effort into the underside nook with seven minutes remaining.
Boss Thomas Tuchel picked a comparatively sturdy line-up, however could have angered a number of the travelling followers with two notable absences.
Summer season signings Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly – for a mixed whole 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 have been deemed prepared sufficient to be included on the bench.
Regular starter in objective Edouard Mendy additionally sat this one out, in addition to Billy Gilmour, whereas the injured Armando Broja was not risked.
Kepa began in objective, 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 harm he suffered in November final 12 months.
Marcos Alonso, Cesar Azpilicueta, Reece James, Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic, Michy Batshuayi and Werner have been amongst these on the bench.
Membership America got here into this one having already began their home league marketing campaign, profitable considered one of 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 put up earlier than Membership America went shut with an analogous 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.
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Tuchel made the complete 11 modifications for the second half, together with the introduction of Jorginho and Emerson, regardless of the actual 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 track within the opening couple of minutes.
Within the fifty fifth minute, Jorginho then discovered James out broad, whose cross was bundled residence 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 by way of a wayward header.
Up subsequent for Tuchel’s males is a conflict in opposition to Charlotte FC on Wednesday earlier than going through 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
