Chelsea face Olivier Giroud reunion at Club World Cup after Los Angeles FC win dramatic play-off | OneFootball

Blues to open Stateside campaign against LAFC in Atlanta this month after extra-time thriller

Gabon winger Denis Bouanga netted a dramatic 115th-minute winner for Steve Cherundolo’s side in extra time after Brian Rodriguez’s penalty had earlier been cancelled out by a late equaliser from Igor Jesus in normal time.

Giroud provided the assist for Bouanga’s crucial goal after a stylish passage of play also involving Frankie Amaya, helping to ensure that he would face former club Chelsea at the Club World Cup.

LAFC’s victory means they will go into Group D at the inaugural expanded 32-team summer Club World Cup being played in the United States this month, with their opening game to come against Conference League winners Chelsea at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on June 16.

They will then travel to Geodis Park in Nashville to meet Tunisian club Esperance de Tunis on June 20, before concluding their group campaign against Brazilian outfit Flamengo at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium on June 24.

The winners of Group D will contest a last-16 tie against the runners-up from a Group C containing Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors and Benfica in Miami on June 29, while the winners of Group C will face the runners-up from Group D in Charlotte a day earlier.

FIFA ordered a one-off qualifying play-off tie between LAFC and Club America after Mexican side Club Leon, following a complaint registered by Costa Rican club Deportiva Alajuelense, were removed from the Club World Cup in March, having failed to meet competition rules on multi-club ownership.

Club Leon and domestic rivals Pachuca are both owned by Grupo Pachuca. FIFA’s decision to remove Club Leon was upheld at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last month.

Pachuca remain in the competition, placed in Group H alongside Real Madrid - who beat them 3-0 in last year’s Intercontinental Cup final in Qatar - as well as Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal and Red Bull Salzburg of Austria.

Giroud, 38, played 114 games across all competitions for Chelsea between 2018-21 after joining from London rivals Arsenal, scoring 39 goals and winning the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup before leaving for AC Milan.

France’s all-time leading scorer is currently one of LAFC’s designated players after joining last year, scoring four times in 32 outings so far.

LAFC’s current squad also includes former Tottenham captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, ex-Leicester forward Cengiz Under and Celtic loanee Odin Thiago Holm.