Chelsea will face Palmeiras in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup after a dramatic 4-1 victory over Benfica in the last 16. The match was interrupted for nearly two hours due to severe weather and featured a controversial stoppage-time penalty for Benfica, before Chelsea sealed their win with a flurry of extra-time goals, concluding almost five hours after the kickoff.
Referee Slavko Vincic halted the game with 85 minutes played, citing severe weather conditions—a recurring issue during this summer’s tournament likely to affect next year’s World Cup. Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca later described the interruption as “a joke.” During the delay, Chelsea players stayed warmed up by training in the dressing room and using exercise bikes, but once play resumed, Benfica was awarded a contentious penalty in stoppage time.
Angel Di Maria converted the spot-kick to equalize, pushing the match into extra time. Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni was then sent off with a second yellow card, but Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku quickly restored their lead with a clever finish after an error from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall added two more goals as Benfica faltered in the latter stages of the encounter. Reece James opened the scoring for Chelsea in the 64th minute during a match that began at 4 PM ET and wrapped up at 8:38 PM.
This triumph nets Chelsea an additional $13.7 million, bringing their estimated total prize money so far to about $54 million.
Match Suspension Explained
This suspension marked the sixth such occurrence in the Club World Cup’s history, as storms interrupted play while Chelsea was ahead 1-0 with under five minutes to go. The delay lasted nearly two hours before the match could continue. Weather-related interruptions have been common this time of year in the U.S., complicating scheduling for several host cities, including those for next summer’s World Cup.
Benfica’s Penalty Controversy
With five minutes remaining plus stoppage time, Benfica secured a controversial penalty for a handball by Malo Gusto after a foul led to a free kick. Following the penalty awarded after a VAR review, Di Maria equalized, leading to a tense period of extra time.
Chelsea’s Determination
Despite playing in a stunned state after Benfica’s equalizer, Chelsea responded strongly, especially after Prestianni’s expulsion early in extra time. Nkunku’s goal, scored with quick thinking and tactical finesse, put Chelsea ahead, paving the way for their eventual victory. This match showcased the resilience and tactical adaptability of Chelsea, even amidst challenging conditions.
