Chelsea secured their place in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals after a dramatic 4-1 victory over Benfica, a match punctuated by a lengthy weather delay. The Round of 16 clash, held at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday, June 28, 2025, was temporarily suspended due to a lightning storm with just minutes left on the clock.
The game was initially halted with Chelsea leading 1-0, courtesy of a 64th-minute goal from Reece James. James scored with a spectacular free kick from a tight angle on the left wing. The stoppage, enforced by U.S. safety regulations for outdoor sporting events, lasted for nearly two hours. Common public safety protocols in the US mandate that outdoor sports events are suspended for at least 30 minutes when lightning is seen or thunder heard. The players were visibly frustrated by the delay, having been in control of the match. Unusually high temperatures for the time of year contributed to the inclement conditions. This is the sixth time a Club World Cup match has been halted due to bad weather.
Before the delay, Chelsea had largely dominated the game, with Marc Cucurella coming close to scoring in the first half, only to be denied by Antonio Silva's goal-line clearance. Benfica, despite a strong showing in the group stage, struggled to break down Chelsea's defense. Statistically, Benfica looked sharper heading into the match, with nine goals scored and only two conceded, compared to Chelsea's six goals for and three against. However, Chelsea's ability to perform in high-pressure situations proved to be the difference.
Upon resumption, Benfica leveled the score in the fifth minute of stoppage time through an Angel Di Maria penalty, awarded after a handball decision against Malo Gusto. The comeback was short-lived, as Gianluca Prestianni received a second yellow card early in extra time, reducing Benfica to 10 men. Prestianni was initially booked during the celebrations for his side's equaliser and then shown a second yellow for a late tackle after only two minutes of extra time.
Chelsea capitalized on their numerical advantage in extra time, with Christopher Nkunku scoring in the 109th minute to restore their lead. Pedro Neto added another goal in the 115th minute, and K. Dewsbury-Hall sealed the victory with a fourth goal in the 117th minute.
Chelsea's journey to the quarter-finals saw them finish as runners-up in Group D, with a mixed bag of results. They started with a 2-0 victory over LAFC, followed by a 3-1 defeat to Flamengo, and then a 3-0 win over Esperance de Tunis.
The win means Chelsea are the first English side to reach the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. They will now face Palmeiras in the quarter-finals, after the Brazilian side's 1-0 victory over Botafogo. The protracted game finally ended more than four and a half hours after kicking off in Charlotte.
