Overview

• Chelsea beat LAFC 2-0 in their Group D opener in Atlanta with goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández.
• Only 22,137 fans attended the 71,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the 3 p.m. workday kickoff.
• Manager Enzo Maresca described the “strange” atmosphere of an almost empty stadium and praised his team’s adaptability.
• Critics link uneven attendances to inconvenient schedules, long travel distances and high early ticket prices.
• Chelsea’s next Group D fixture is Friday in Philadelphia against Flamengo, where Maresca anticipates a livelier atmosphere.