Reece James, Nkunku, Neto, and Dewsbury-Hall fire Blues past 10-man Benfica in weather-delayed classic
Chelsea booked their place in the Club World Cup 2025 quarter-finals with a dramatic 4-1 extra-time victory over Benfica at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. In a match that had everything—goals, a red card, a weather delay, and tactical twists—the Blues showed resilience and attacking flair to outlast the Portuguese giants.
Reece James Breaks the Deadlock
After a cagey first half, Chelsea finally found the breakthrough in the 64th minute. Captain Reece James caught Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin off guard with a clever near-post free-kick, giving the Premier League side a deserved 1-0 lead.
Chelsea looked set to close out the win, but the match was halted in the 87th minute due to a lightning storm. The delay lasted over two hours, disrupting momentum and forcing both teams to reset mentally and physically.
Di María’s Late Equalizer Forces Extra Time
When play resumed, Benfica pushed forward and were rewarded deep into stoppage time. A VAR review penalized Malo Gusto for handball, and Ángel Di María calmly converted the spot-kick in the 95th minute to level the score at 1-1.
Red Card Turns the Tide
Just two minutes into extra time, Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni was sent off for a second yellow card after a reckless challenge on Levi Colwill. The dismissal proved costly, as Chelsea took full advantage of the extra man.
Chelsea’s Extra-Time Blitz
In the 108th minute, Christopher Nkunku restored Chelsea’s lead, pouncing on a rebound after Moisés Caicedo’s shot slipped under Trubin. Six minutes later, Pedro Neto made it 3-1 with a composed finish after breaking clear of the defense. The rout was completed in the 117th minute when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall fired home from the edge of the box to seal a memorable win.
What’s Next?
With this result, Chelsea advance to face Palmeiras in the quarter-finals on July 4 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. For fans tracking Club World Cup 2025 results, this match was a reminder of Chelsea’s depth, composure under pressure, and ability to rise in big moments.
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