By Sachit Subba • Football • Jun 29, 2025 02:04 AM • 76 views
In a dramatic, storm-interrupted contest in Charlotte, Chelsea delivered a ruthless extra-time blitz to dispatch 10-man Benfica 4-1 and book a tantalizing Club World Cup quarter-final clash with Palmeiras. It was a game of two halves, then two more—split by weather, cards, comebacks and clinical finishing. Reece James' sublime free-kick had put Chelsea ahead, but Ángel Di María's late penalty forced extra-time after a lengthy lightning delay. What followed was a masterclass in composure and finishing from Enzo Maresca's side, with goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sealing the deal in a pulsating conclusion. "I'm very proud," said Maresca, who remains unbeaten at the helm. "The performance for me was top until 85 minutes, then after the storm delay, it became a different game. To come back from that and play the way we did in extra time – it shows the character of this group."
Weather, Red Cards, and a Turning Tide
The contest began in relative calm before chaos descended in the final minutes of regular time. Chelsea had dictated proceedings, carving out chances with fluid movement and pressing Benfica into their own third. Their breakthrough came in the 64th minute when James, captaining the side with typical poise, curled a stunning free-kick beyond Anatoliy Trubin. But as the game edged toward full-time, nature intervened. A lightning storm near Bank of America Stadium forced officials to halt the match with just five minutes remaining, triggering an evacuation under the stadium's weather protocol. Almost two hours later, players returned to a very different game. Almost immediately, the match tilted further in Chelsea's favour when Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni was red—dismissed for a second bookable offence just seven minutes after the restart. Yet, in an extraordinary twist, Malo Gusto handled the ball in his own box, and Di María coolly converted from the spot in the 93rd minute to force extra time. It was a twist worthy of the storm, but Chelsea was far from done.
Extra-Time Blitz
With Benfica down a man and legs tiring, Chelsea surged forward with intent. Their pressure paid off in the 108th minute when Caicedo's shot rebounded off Trubin, only for Nkunku to loft a deft chip over veteran defender Nicolás Otamendi and into the net. From there, the floodgates opened. Six minutes later, it was Pedro Neto's turn. Released by Caicedo's pinpoint through-ball, the Portuguese winger burst past a fragmented Benfica backline and slotted a composed finish past the advancing keeper. Dewsbury-Hall then added the icing, making it 4-1 in the 117th minute after being released by Cole Palmer with a clever diagonal pass. The Leicester graduate, arriving late into the box, showed great composure to cap a flawless period of football from the Blues.
A Statement Victory, Palmeiras Await
This was a defining win for Chelsea—a performance that mixed tactical discipline with attacking flair and one that will send a message to the remaining contenders in the tournament. The Blues have now scored seven goals in their last two outings and look increasingly sharp under Maresca. The upcoming quarter-final against Palmeiras promises fireworks. The Brazilian giants are coming off their own dramatic win over Botafogo, and both sides enter Friday's clash in fine form. "We knew this wouldn't be easy," said James post-match. "But we stayed focused through the chaos, stuck to our plan, and when it mattered most, we delivered." Indeed, they did. On a stormy Charlotte night, Chelsea weathered more than just the literal storm—and in doing so, signalled their serious intent for Club World Cup glory.
