Two well-taken finishes, the first from Pedro Neto and the second from Enzo Fernandez, helped the Blues overcome Los Angeles FC to make a winning start to our FIFA Club World Cup campaign.
The Blues certainly didn't have it all our own way in Atlanta, but we carved out the better chances across the 90 minutes.
The first to be taken arrived via the left boot of Pedro Neto, who surged onto a Nicolas Jackson pass, skipped beyond a challenge, and then fired home. That gave us a lead at the interval.
LAFC did carry a greater threat in the second period, and Robert Sanchez was called upon on a couple of occasions to make saves, but we guaranteed a winning start to the tournament when Fernandez finished from close range following a fine cross from debutant Liam Delap.
Returning to action
With our pre-tournament arrivals – Mamadou Sarr, Dario Essugo and Delap – named among the substitutes, our starting XI had a familiar look.
Sanchez was between the posts; the back four consisted of Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella; Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia were in midfield; and the front four was Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson.
In the cavernous Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Maresca's side made a positive start. Cucurella was the first to threaten with an attempt that drifted high and wide, and Jackson forced LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris into a save after a surge forward from Madueke.
Asserting pressure
The two linked again in the final third soon after, as the Senegal international skilfully avoided a challenge and threaded the ball through to Madueke. The winger fired a shot across goal that struck Lloris' leg, and Palmer's follow-up attempt was blocked.
Our new No.10 did come close to breaking the deadlock in trademark style, as he was given time to measure a shot from the edge of the box and whip an attempt toward the far corner.
The ball took a slight touch off a covering defender, which ensured it landed on the roof of the net rather than in the top corner.
Our MLS opponents had largely been restricted during the opening half-hour, and soon after we fashioned the goal our performance deserved. Jackson again was key, as he dropped off to receive the ball and then slid a pass through to Neto.
The Portugal international strode into the box, chopped back beyond the despairing challenge of Ryan Hollingshead, and then fired a low drive beyond Lloris. It was a fine - and deserved – opening goal.
LA offered little in the way of a response before the interval; a free-kick from Denis Bouanga that was pushed clear by Sanchez was the closest the American club came in the opening 45 minutes.
Changes made
As is often the case, Maresca altered his side at the interval. Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez were introduced for James and Lavia, while one of our 2021 Champions League winners, Olivier Giroud, was brought on by LAFC. The French forward replaced Jeremy Ebobisse
That switch gave LA an extra threat in the final third, as space was created for wingers David Martinez and Bouanga. The former came close with a shot from distance, which flew narrowly over the crossbar, and the latter forced Sanchez into a good stop at his near post soon after.
The Blues soon reasserted our control, however, and we were inches away from a second goal when a cross from Pedro Neto found the head of Jackson.
He steered his header toward the far corner, but was unfortunate to see it strike the inside of the post.
A new face
Shortly after the hour mark, Maresca turned to his bench again. Tyrique George replaced Madueke before Liam Delap was introduced for his Chelsea debut in place of Jackson.
And the striker's first involvement was a positive one, as a powerful surge enabled him to get to the byline and pull the ball back for the onrushing Fernandez. Unfortunately, his effort was blocked.
The Argentine turned provider moments later for Palmer, but the England international fired over after breaking into the box.
There was a genuine scare for Maresca's side as the final ten minutes approached, as an LA attack forced some last-ditch defending from Tosin, Colwill and Cucurella, before Timothy Tillman flashed the ball across the six-yard box and Bouanga couldn't stretch enough to turn it home.
Making it safe
Fortunately, there was an instant reply from the Blues and we doubled our lead. Delap played a big role, as he peeled out wide to collect a Palmer pass and then deliver an excellent cross into the box for Fernandez, who controlled and guided a shot beyond Lloris from close range.
There were a couple more chances of note – Bouanga worked Sanchez again and Pedro Neto flashed a shot over – but the most notable moment of the latter minutes was the introduction of Dario Essugo, who was brought on for his Blues debut for Caicedo. Christopher Nkunku also replaced Palmer.
The final whistle was blown a few minutes later and Maresca quickly strode onto the pitch to congratulate his players. It was job done, a winning start, and now his and his players' focus will turn to the next challenge in the tournament.
What it means
A winning start for the Blues, who claim the first three points in Group D and, at least temporarily, take top spot.
What comes next
The Blues will return to our base in Philadelphia ahead of our second group-stage fixture, which sees us take on Brazilian club Flamengo at Lincoln Financial Field.
The teams
Chelsea: Sanchez; James (c) (Gusto 46), Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo (Essugo 84), Lavia (Enzo 46); Madueke (George 64), Palmer (Nkunku 84), Pedro Neto; Jackson (Delap 64)
Chelsea substitutes: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Chalobah, Badiashile, Sarr, Anselmino, Andrey Santos, Dewsbury-Hall, Guiu
Scorers: Pedro Neto 34, Enzo 80
Bookings: James36, Tosin 45, Cucurella 75
LAFC: Lloris, Palencia, Long, Segura, Hollingshead, Delgado (Yeboah 87), Jesus (Amaya 81), Tillman, Ordaz (Martinez 38), Ebobisse (Giroud 46), Bouanga.
LAFC substitutes: Hasal, Ochoa, Marlon, Raposo, Chanot, Tafari, Hom, Saldana, Wibowo
Bookings: Martinez 58, Palencia 90+2
Attendance: 22,137
Referee: Jesus Valenzuela