Morgan Rogers enjoyed a successful start to his Chelsea career, finding the back of the net on his debut during the club's final pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad. While the newcomer made an immediate impact, it was Joao Pedro who ultimately secured the 3-1 victory for the Blues with a decisive second-half brace.
Rogers, who joined the squad following a £116million move from Aston Villa, opened the scoring within the first 11 minutes. The goal came after Alex Remiro parried a header from Joao Pedro, allowing Rogers to tap the ball home. Despite their early control, Chelsea faced pressure from the visitors, requiring goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to produce two vital saves to maintain the lead. However, Real Sociedad managed to level the score just before half-time when defender Jon Aramburu struck a precise volley.
Chelsea regained their advantage shortly after the break. Reece James found space on the edge of the box and delivered a cross to the back post, where Joao Pedro powered in a header that left Remiro with no chance of saving. As the match progressed, a series of substitutions occurred, including the introduction of Enzo Fernandez, who received a mixed reception from the crowd following the conclusion of the summer transfer window.
Joao Pedro sealed the win in the latter stages of the match, latching onto a through ball from Malo Gusto and slotting home after a goalkeeping error by Remiro. The match also saw Pep Chavarria make his Chelsea debut to a warm reception. Chelsea now shifts its focus to the upcoming Premier League season, which kicks off for them a week on Monday with an away fixture against West London rivals Fulham.
