Liam Delap opened his account for Chelsea after scoring in their 3-0 victory over Esperance Sportive de Tunis.
Tosin Adarabioyo put Chelsea in front just prior to the half-time whistle before Delap doubled their lead shortly after.
Tyrique George rounded things off at the end of the game, helping his side reach the last 16 of the Club World Cup.
Liam Delap lauded Enzo Fernandez after the match, with the midfielder grabbing two assists at Lincoln Financial Field, but the 22-year-old has also received some praise himself following his own display.
Referee Yael Falcon Perez embraces Liam Delap #9 of Chelsea FC
Photo by Carl Recine – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Gabriel Agbonlahor in love with Chelsea striker Liam Delap’s strength
Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor liked what he saw from Delap during the ES Tunis game.
The pundit was impressed with not only the forward’s finish, but also with the strength he showed before it.
“That’s what I like about him, his strength,” Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT. “I mean, watching him last year for Ipswich, how strong he is, his hold-up play, he can hold defenders off. And even there, some strikers, maybe Nicolas Jackson, would have hit that with his left foot, got blocked. He chops inside and guides [it] into the corner.”
MORE CHELSEA STORIES
Chelsea fans can expect more of the same once the new Premier League season kicks off. Delap has already sent a warning to defenders, stating that he will not change his aggressive style of play.
With Nicolas Jackson suspended following the red card he picked up away at Newcastle United last term, Delap is almost certain to lead the line for Chelsea in their first game against Crystal Palace.
Liam Delap replaces Nicolas Jackson as a substitute in Chelsea's Club World Cup win against Los Angeles FC.
Photo by Michael Regan – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Gabriel Agbonlahor’s previous criticism of Liam Delap
Delap’s strike against ES Tunis was his second goal contribution at the Club World Cup, with the England Under-21 international assisting Fernandez in Chelsea’s opener versus Los Angeles FC.
It was a very promising debut, though Agbonlahor felt that Delap gave the ball away too often after coming on.
When Agbonlahor reviewed Delap’s debut, he said: “When he came on, he kept giving the ball away, seemed like he was a bit nervous when he came on.”
Nevertheless, Agbonlahor still appears to be a fan of Delap, and it is not hard to understand why. The former Ipswich Town man plays like a proper, old-fashioned centre-forward. The Stamford Bridge faithful will love that, especially if goals come alongside the robust centre-forward play he has been showing since the start of last season.