Chelsea booked their place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals with a dramatic 4-1 win over Benfica, overcoming a marathon 117-minute weather delay, a late penalty setback, and an extra-time onslaught of goals.
In the Charlotte heat, Chelsea dominated from the start, but Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin delivered a heroic first-half performance, keeping the Blues at bay with a series of excellent saves. The breakthrough came in the 64th minute via Reece James, who curled a stunning free-kick into the near post for a deserved opener.
Just when Chelsea looked to be cruising, lightning struck—literally. A near two-hour suspension due to severe weather interrupted proceedings and changed the momentum. Play resumed close to 1am UK time, and within minutes, Benfica were handed a lifeline.
Malo Gusto was penalised for a handball, and Angel Di Maria calmly converted from the spot in the 94th minute to send the tie to extra time.
Benfica’s hopes were short-lived. Just two minutes into extra time, Gianluca Prestianni was sent off for a second yellow card, giving Chelsea a numerical edge. The Premier League side capitalized ruthlessly. Christopher Nkunku scored in the 108th minute, reacting fastest after a Caicedo shot was parried.
Pedro Neto made it 3-1 six minutes later, racing behind Benfica’s high line before finishing coolly. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sealed the rout in the 117th minute with a composed one-on-one finish.
Man of the Match – Moises Caicedo
The Ecuadorian midfielder was central to Chelsea’s attacking rhythm, contributing to two goals and dominating the midfield battle. He tallied three tackles, four shots, and two key passes in a tireless performance.
Match Stats:
- Possession: Benfica 36% – 64% Chelsea
- Shots: Benfica 8 – 22 Chelsea
- Shots on Target: Benfica 5 – 12 Chelsea
- Corners: Benfica 2 – 10 Chelsea
- Fouls: Benfica 14 – 21 Chelsea
Notable Highlights:
- Reece James (64’): Sensational direct free-kick
- Angel Di Maria (90+4’): Equalizer from the spot after VAR decision
- Gianluca Prestianni (92’): Red card for second bookable offense
- Christopher Nkunku (108’): Persistence pays off with go-ahead goal
- Pedro Neto (114’) & Dewsbury-Hall (117’): Rapid-fire finishes to bury Benfica
Chelsea now advance to face Palmeiras in the quarter-finals, while Benfica will regroup ahead of their Portuguese Super Cup clash with Sporting Lisbon on July 31.