Mason Mount smashed a stunning winner to kick off Chelsea's pre-season tour of the US with a win here in Las Vegas.
The England winger curled in an effort from the edge of the box after Timo Werner had hit an opener from close range. Reece James had equalised for Club America with a freak own goal, sending the ball into his own net past third-choice keeper Marcus Bettinelli.
The win caps a productive week for Thomas Tuchel's side. On Thursday they confirmed the capture of England forward Raheem Sterling. On Friday they revealed Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly had completed his £34million switch to Stamford Bridge.
They now go to FC Charlotte on July 20 before facing Arsenal in Orlando three days later. Here are five talking points from Chelsea's win against Club America.
Mount Mason
He’s come back from his summer holidays looking more hench and he is packing a punch too. Superb, curling effort from just outside the box to kick off his pre-season. He was part of the second wave that came on to replace the entire Chelsea B-team at the break and he impressed.
Not just with the simplicity of his passes, also with the timing of his runs. His heart map will show him to have been all over the pitch because he dictated the play and underlined, even in this first game, why he will not be sacrificed to make way for Raheem Sterling.
Chelsea look sharp
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You’d never have thought this was their first game of their pre-season. Okay, we will probably see only three of the eleven that started this game in the line-up for the Premier League opener against Everton on August 6.
But for the most part this lot were sharp, they were at it and they were in better shape than you’d have expected them to be at this point. Around 15 minutes on they worked off those close-season pizzas and burgers as they pressed high up the pitch and pinned in Club America.
Where is Edouard Mendy?
He spoke to us journalists in Los Angeles and he’ll have been delighted by the £34million arrival of his Senegal international team-mate Kalidou Koulibaly. But Mendy was conspicuous by his absence here.
We know, of course, what he can offer but you’d have thought he’d have at least had the second half to get some minutes into his legs. And he was here in the stadium. So why didn't he play? Let’s hope he is not injured. Kepa Arrizabalaga isn’t a bad substitute, he just doesn’t have Mendy’s authority.
Goals
Early days of course but even here Chelsea were unable to find more goals to crown their domination. As pointed out already, this is a) a training exercise and b) their first pre-season game of the summer.
But they were value for far more than just the two goals. Christian Pulisic and Jorginho came off the bench after half time and tested Club America keeper Oscar Jimenez. Michy Batshuayi reminded us why he can't get a look in and it took the quality of Timo Werner and Mason Mount to guide Chelsea home.
Yes, they do have Raheem Sterling to come but with Liverpool boasting Darwin Nunez and City welcoming Erling Haaland, Chelsea need a marksman.
They may have missed out on Robert Lewandowski but you get the feeling it is an issue that the club will solve before the end of the summer.
Chilwell
He looked rusty - which is to be expected given his lengthy spell out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. He couldn’t quite find the frequency his team-mates were on, no matter how much he twisted and turned his footballing dial. He will come good, no doubt. He has too much quality not to.
He just needs time, Hopefully Chelsea fans will give it to him.
