In an unforgettable clash at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, Chelsea overcame a resilient 10-man Benfica side to secure a 4–1 extra‑time victory—booking their place in the quarter‑finals against Palmeiras. The historic encounter lasted a marathon 4 hours and 38 minutes, disrupted by a nearly two‑hour lightning delay
Highlights
Watch the key moments of this dramatic round-of-16 clash:
⚽ First Half & Regular Time Drama
Reece James struck first, curling in a spectacular free‑kick in the 64th minute to put Chelsea ahead
With just minutes left before regular time, play was halted due to lightning strikes within 13 km, forcing a lengthy evacuation
Shortly after the unusually long delay, Benfica earned a contentious penalty when Malo Gusto’s handball was deemed harsh under Premier League micro‑standards. Ángel Di María calmly converted from the spot in stoppage time, leveling the score at 1–1
🔴 Extra Time & Chelsea’s Comeback
Midway through stoppage, Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni received a second yellow and was sent off, giving Chelsea a numerical edge
Chelsea capitalized swiftly:
Christopher Nkunku netted an overhead-style finish three minutes into extra time
Pedro Neto extended the lead, slotting in after a slick Moisés Caicedo assist
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sealed the win in the 117th minute with a cheeky chip from a Cole Palmer setup
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🌩 Weather Interruption & Impact
The lightning delay—one of the longest in Club World Cup history—transformed the match’s landscape. Momentum shifted dramatically when play resumed; what seemed a slated Benfica upset turned into an intense Chelsea revival .
🔍 Tactical & Individual Insights
Chelsea remained dominant throughout, outshooting Benfica 22 to 8 and controlling midfield via Caicedo, Lavia, and Fernández
Reece James, the captain, delivered a commanding display, stepping up with leadership and delivering the opener
Benfica, though energetic early on, were visibly fatigued post-delay and struggled after going a man down, with many starters lacking sharpness.
✅ Looking Ahead
Chelsea’s triumph sets up a blockbuster quarter‑final against Brazilian giants Palmeiras, while Benfica reflect on missed opportunities and the influential storm delay
