Chelsea Beat 10-Man Benfica in 4-Hour Weather-Delayed Club World Cup Match
Chelsea booked their spot in the Club World Cup quarter-finals after a wild 3-1 victory over 10-man Benfica in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game, which lasted over four hours due to a severe thunderstorm delay, was one of the most dramatic matches in recent memory.
Reece James gave Chelsea the lead in the 64th minute with a brilliant near-post free-kick. At that point, it looked like a routine win. However, with just four minutes left in regulation time, lightning forced players off the pitch for nearly two hours.
When the teams returned, Benfica made an immediate impact. Angel Di Maria, playing his final game for the club, calmly converted a penalty in the 94th minute after a handball by Chelsea.
Despite the setback, Chelsea regrouped quickly. Things turned in their favor again when Benfica’s youngster Gianluca Prestianni was sent off for two quick yellow cards — one at the end of regular time and another early in extra time.
With the man advantage, Chelsea pushed forward. Eventually, they broke through with three goals in the second half of extra time. Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall all found the net to secure the win.
As a result, Chelsea will now face Brazilian club Palmeiras in Friday’s quarter-final in Philadelphia.
⚡ Key Talking Point: The Weather Delay
In Charlotte, local safety rules trigger a “seek cover protocol” if lightning strikes within an eight-mile radius. Every new strike resets a 30-minute delay.
While this is standard in American sports, many players — especially from Europe — were clearly frustrated by the long pause. The delay disrupted Chelsea’s momentum and added an unexpected challenge.
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