Chelsea secured a dramatic 4-1 victory over Benfica in a match that stretched close to five hours at the Club World Cup in the United States. The London club now advances to face Brazilian side Palmeiras in the quarter-finals.
The game, held at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina, saw Chelsea’s late-game brilliance turn the tide. Extra-time goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sealed the win after a grueling contest that included a nearly two-hour weather delay.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca expressed frustration with the prolonged delay, calling it “a joke” and “not football.” He praised his team’s control during most of the match but criticized the disruption that turned the game into a near five-hour marathon.
“For 85 minutes, we were in control of the game,” Maresca said. “We created enough chances to win. But after the break, everything changed. Personally, I don’t think that’s football.”
Earlier, Chelsea looked set for victory when Reece James scored a clever free-kick in the second half, giving them a 1-0 lead with just four minutes remaining. However, shortly after, a storm over Charlotte prompted safety protocols, forcing the game to pause.
This marked the sixth time during the tournament that weather warnings caused a match disruption, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the competition.
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