Chelsea Advances to Quarter-Finals After Thrilling Victory

Chelsea secured a spot in the quarter-finals after overcoming Benfica 4–1 in a captivating FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 match held at the Bank of America Stadium on Saturday. The contest, punctuated by a weather delay, saw Chelsea netting three goals in extra time.

This triumph sets the stage for a quarter-final clash between the English team and Palmeiras of Brazil. Reece James had initially put Chelsea ahead in the 64th minute. Benfica faced further adversity when Gianluca Prestianni received a red card early into stoppage time.

However, the game took an unexpected turn when a thunderstorm forced players off the field with only four minutes of regulation time remaining. Following an almost two-hour delay, Benfica returned and swiftly equalized with their first attempt on goal.

Angel Di Maria, in his final appearance for Benfica, successfully converted a penalty in the 94th minute following a Chelsea handball, leveling the score at 1–1.

The match intensity escalated when Gianluca Prestianni was shown two yellow cards in quick succession, first in the 96th minute and again at the start of extra time, resulting in his dismissal for a challenge on Levi Colwill.

Subsequently, Chelsea dominated in extra time, with goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall within a nine-minute span, ensuring their victory.

Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, lauded the team’s tenacity.

Manager’s Comments

“I am very proud. I thought our performance was excellent up until the 85th minute, when the stoppage disrupted the game entirely,” Maresca commented.

“Returning after more than an hour is challenging. Yet, even at 1–1, we maintained our focus, and the result reflected our efforts.”

Chelsea is scheduled to play Palmeiras on Friday in the quarter-final round.