Chelsea booked their place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals with a dramatic 4–1 extra-time victory over Benfica on Saturday, in a last-16 clash that stretched nearly five hours due to a lengthy weather delay.
The match at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, lasted four hours and 39 minutes, with play suspended for nearly two hours due to a thunderstorm. When the dust finally settled, Chelsea emerged victorious thanks to a late flurry of goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
The London club had looked on course for a routine win after Reece James’s clever second-half free-kick gave them a 1–0 lead with just four minutes of regular time remaining. But a sudden storm triggered local safety protocols, forcing a suspension of play—marking the sixth weather-related disruption of the tournament.
When the game resumed, Benfica struck back immediately. A VAR review penalised Chelsea substitute Malo Gusto for handball, and veteran Angel Di Maria calmly converted the resulting penalty in stoppage time to send the tie into extra time.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca expressed frustration at the circumstances: “I think it’s a joke. It’s not football,” Maresca said. “We were in control for 85 minutes and created enough chances to win. After the break, the game changed. Personally, that’s not how football should be played.”
Benfica’s hopes of an upset were dented when teenager Gianluca Prestianni was sent off for a second yellow card at the end of regulation. Despite playing with 10 men, the Portuguese side threatened early in extra time before Chelsea took control.
Nkunku restored Chelsea’s lead by poking home from close range after Moises Caicedo’s low shot slipped under Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.
As Benfica pushed forward in search of another equaliser, they were left exposed at the back. Neto made it 3–1 in the 114th minute with a composed finish on the break, and three minutes later, Dewsbury-Hall sealed the result with a well-taken goal.
Chelsea will now face Brazilian giants Palmeiras in the quarter-finals on Friday in Philadelphia, where the Blues played their two group-stage matches.
Paulinho sends Palmeiras through in all-Brazilian battle
Earlier in the day, Palmeiras edged domestic rivals Botafogo 1–0 in another tight contest, with substitute Paulinho netting the decisive extra-time goal at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Coach Abel Ferreira’s decision to bring on Paulinho in place of teenage star Estevão Willian raised eyebrows but proved inspired. The winger latched onto a pass from Richard Rios in the 100th minute, cut inside from the right flank, and drilled a low shot into the far corner to settle the contest.
The goal sparked jubilant celebrations among the Palmeiras supporters, who made up the bulk of the 33,657 in attendance. Despite going down to 10 men late in the match following captain Gustavo Gómez’s red card, Palmeiras held firm.
“That’s exactly why he came on — to make a difference,” said Ferreira of Paulinho, who has struggled with injuries since joining the club earlier this year.
“He’ll need to rest again after this tournament, but for now, he gave us what we needed.”
Palmeiras, Copa Libertadores champions in 2020 and 2021, will now aim to replicate the success of compatriots Flamengo, who stunned Chelsea in the group stage.
The round of 16 continues on Sunday with two blockbuster encounters: European champions Paris Saint-Germain take on Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami in Atlanta, while Bayern Munich face Flamengo in Miami later in the evening.
AFP
