Chelsea overcame 10-man Benfica with three late goals in extra time to secure a place in the Club World Cup quarter-finals, in a remarkable last-16 encounter that lasted over four hours and included a near two-hour delay due to severe weather.
Goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the second half of extra time sealed Chelsea’s passage in Charlotte, North Carolina, where thunderstorms brought the game to a standstill.
The Premier League side had been edging towards a routine win after Reece James curled in a superb near-post free-kick in the 64th minute. However, play was halted with just four minutes remaining when players were forced off the pitch due to lightning in the area.
When the teams eventually returned nearly two hours later, Benfica made an immediate impact, scoring with their first shot on target to force extra time. Veteran forward Ángel Di María, making his final appearance for Benfica, calmly slotted home a 94th-minute penalty following a Chelsea handball.
Benfica were reduced to 10 men shortly after when youngster Gianluca Prestianni received two yellow cards—one in the 96th minute and another just after the restart for a reckless challenge on Levi Colwill.
Chelsea capitalised on the numerical advantage in extra time, netting three times to set up a quarter-final clash with Brazilian side Palmeiras in Philadelphia on Friday.
Only 25,929 spectators attended the match at the 74,867-capacity Bank of America Stadium. Chelsea’s victory was marred by an injury to defender Benoît Badiashile, who left on crutches, while key midfielder Moisés Caicedo picked up his second booking of the competition and will now serve a one-match suspension.
Key Talking Point
Thunderstorms are common in Charlotte, triggering a local ‘seek cover protocol’, which is extended by 30 minutes with every lightning strike detected within an eight-mile radius. This is a procedure unfamiliar to many players and fans, and Chelsea’s squad appeared visibly frustrated as they were ushered off the pitch.
Who Impressed and Who Fell Short?
Full-backs Reece James and Marc Cucurella stood out for their performances at both ends of the pitch in Enzo Maresca’s newly implemented system. However, the weather interruption seemed to affect Chelsea’s rhythm, and Benfica’s red card altered the dynamic significantly. Substitute Malo Gusto looked unsettled in the post-delay chaos.
Notable Statistics
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Two of Reece James’ three goals in 2025 have come from direct free-kicks (also against Bournemouth in January), and these remain Chelsea’s only direct free-kick goals this calendar year.
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Chelsea had not faced a shot on target in back-to-back Club World Cup matches until Di María’s penalty.
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Benfica remain winless in their past eight matches against English sides (three draws, five defeats), with their last win coming against Tottenham Hotspur in March 2014.
What’s Next?
Chelsea will face Palmeiras in the quarter-final in Philadelphia on Friday (kick-off 20:00 BST), while Benfica turn their attention to a Champions League play-off and the start of the Portuguese season with the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira against Sporting on 31 July.
