- Chelsea Smash Benfica 4-1 to Reach Club World Cup Quarter-Finals.
- The match was delayed for two hours due to severe weather conditions.
- Nkunku, Neto, and Dewsbury-Hall scored in extra time to seal victory.
Chelsea stormed into the Club World Cup quarter-finals with a commanding 4-1 extra-time victory over Benfica, in a match that was dramatically interrupted by a two-hour lightning delay at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Reece James opened the scoring in the 83rd minute with a smartly taken free-kick, but play was abruptly halted in the 86th minute due to severe weather. When the game resumed, Benfica forced extra time through Angel Di Maria’s stoppage-time penalty following a VAR-confirmed handball.
Benfica’s hopes were dashed early in extra time when substitute Gianluca Prestianni was sent off for a second yellow card. Chelsea quickly took control, with Christopher Nkunku restoring the lead in the 108th minute. Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall later sealed the emphatic win with two well-taken breakaway goals.
The victory sets up a quarter-final showdown against Brazilian giants Palmeiras on Saturday in Philadelphia.
The match, which stretched over four and a half hours from kick-off to final whistle, became the sixth game in the Club World Cup affected by weather delays. Benfica, who experienced a similar disruption during the group stage, faced another frustrating night.
Chelsea dominated the contest throughout, with Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin making crucial saves to keep the scoreline respectable in normal time. Marc Cucurella also saw his effort dramatically cleared off the line by Antonio Silva.
Despite the lengthy weather interruption, Chelsea returned with intensity, showing class and composure to crush Benfica’s resistance. The Club World Cup’s repeated organisational issues have raised fresh concerns, with former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp previously criticising the tournament’s format.
Chelsea will now aim to continue their trophy push when they meet Palmeiras in the last eight.
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