Chelsea Team stormed into the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup with a thrilling 4-1 extra-time win over Benfica on Saturday, in a match heavily disrupted by severe weather at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The game, which lasted nearly four hours and 40 minutes, was halted for almost two hours due to a weather delay. Despite the interruption, Chelsea team returned sharper and more clinical, sealing a deserved victory in extra time.
Initially, Reece James had put the Blues ahead with a smart free-kick late in the second half, seemingly securing the win with just four minutes left on the clock. However, chaos followed as a storm forced the match to pause, marking the sixth weather suspension of the tournament so far.
After the lengthy delay, Benfica equalized in dramatic fashion. A VAR review awarded them a penalty following a handball by Chelsea’s Malo Gusto. Ángel Di María calmly converted to make it 1-1 and push the tie into extra time.
Benfica’s hopes of an upset faded quickly when Gianluca Prestianni received a second yellow card, reducing the Portuguese side to ten men. Chelsea took full advantage. Christopher Nkunku struck first in extra time, pouncing on a loose ball to restore the lead.
From there, Chelsea dominated. Pedro Neto broke away and finished coolly to make it 3-1 in the 114th minute. Just three minutes later, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall added a fourth, sealing Chelsea’s spot in the last eight, where they will face Brazilian champions Palmeiras.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, though pleased with the result, criticized the repeated weather interruptions, calling the delays “not football.”
With momentum and confidence, Chelsea now eye a deep run in the tournament.
