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28 March 2024

Lukaku double powers Chelsea past Sounders

Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Bryan Meredith is unable to stop Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku from scoring the first goal during the first half of an exhibition match on Wednesday in Seattle. (AP)

Published
By AFP

European champions Chelsea opened their tour of the United States on Wednesday with a 4-2 win over the Seattle Sounders as striker Romelu Lukaku led the way with two first half goals.

The Belgian slotted home in the third and 45th minutes while newcomers Marko Marin and Eden Hazard also scored for the Blues.

It was the first match for Chelsea since they beat Bayern Munich two months ago to win their first Champions League and add to their FA Cup win.

Fredy Montero scored twice in the first half for the Sounders but they were unable to muster enough attack in the second half in front of a crowd of 53,309 at Century Field.

However, they managed to keep the score closer, unlike last year when they were routed 7-0 by Manchester United.

Chelsea were without five of their biggest names for the first stop on their four-game pre-season American tour.

The trip also features the first football match at the new Yankee Stadium, against Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, before the West London side face the Major League Soccer all-stars in Philadelphia and Italian giants AC Milan in Miami.

Spanish star Fernando Torres - who helped Spain to win Euro 2012 this month - will join the tour later, as will Portugal's Raul Meireles, French midfielder Flourent Malouda and England defenders Ashley Cole and John Terry.

 

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