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At the Club World Cup in the United States on Saturday, Chelsea defeated Benfica in a game that lasted for close to five hours before the quarter-final showdown with Brazilian side Palmeiras.

The London club won 4-1 over Benfica thanks to extra-time goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

After a nearly two-hour delay due to the weather, their late burst of scoring at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina resolved the last-16 tie.

Enzo Maresca, the manager of Chelsea, was happy with the victory for his team, but criticized the delay, which had already spanned almost five hours.

Maresca said, “I don’t believe it’s a joke; it’s not football.”

We held the lead in the 85-minute period. We had enough chances to win the game. Then, after the break, the game changed; personally, it’s not football.

Chelsea had already sounded confident in winning the match with four minutes left before Reece James’ opportunistic second-half free kick had given them a 1-0 lead.

However, a storm over Charlotte just as Chelsea began to consider their quarter-final matchup prompted local safety regulations that required the suspension of the game.

READ MORE: Palmeiras defeats Botafogo in extra time at the Club World Cup.

A weather warning has interrupted a game for the sixth time during the Club World Cup.

After Chelsea substitute Malo Gusto was deemed to have handled in the penalty area in response to an intervention by the Video Assistant Referee, play resumed just under two hours later.

Angel Di Maria, an Argentine veteran, scored an ice-cold penalty to make it extra time for Benfica.

Following Gianluca Prestianni’s second yellow card at the end of regulation, Benfica threatened to take the lead in the pursuit of an improbable victory in an end-to-end first half of extra time.

Instead, Nkunku fired back from close range after Moises Caicedo’s low shot was squirted underneath Benfica goalkeeper Antoliy Trubin, who had the ball squirted underneath Chelsea.

Chelsea launched an attack as the game progressed, and Benfica became more vulnerable on the counter-attack.

After going clean through on goal in the 114th minute, Neto made it 3-1 with a nerveless finish, and Dewsbury-Hall added three minutes later to send Chelsea through to the last eight.

On Friday, they will travel to Philadelphia, where they previously lost two games in the group stage, to face Palmeiras in the quarter-finals.

Brazilian Derby is halted by Paulinho

In a battle of attrition earlier on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, the Brazilian club were appreciative of Paulinho’s winner at extra-time after winning 1-0 to beat domestic rivals Botafogo 1-0.

The winger started the second half with the addition of teenage sensation Estevao Willian, who initially appeared uninspired but ultimately proved to be inspiring, as Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira did in the first half.

When Paulinho received a pass from Richard Rios on the right flank, the tie reached 100 minutes later, and he had the opportunity to enter the box before slotting a low shot into the far corner.

The majority of the 33, 657 Palmeiras fans were in awe of the fiery celebrations, and the Sao Paulo side held on to win the game despite having captain Gustavo Gomez sent off late on.

“He came because he wanted to play for long enough to decide a game,” he said. After the tournament, Ferreira, who has struggled with injuries since signing for Palmeiras at the start of the year, said, “He is going to have to stop again.”

Palmeiras, who won the Copa Libertadores in 2020 and 2021, will now hope to elude their Brazilian rival Flamengo, who defeated Chelsea in the group stage.

Paris Saint-Germain take on Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami on Sunday in Atlanta for the last-16 match.

Bayern Munich will face Flamengo in Miami later.

Carlos Alcaraz believes that overcoming his fear factor has given him the confidence to pursue a landmark third Wimbledon title in a row.

On Monday, Alcaraz will face Fabio Fognini in a match on Center Court.

The 22-year-old Spaniard wants to become the fifth player to win at least three Open titles in a row, joining Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic.

Alcaraz will make his Wimbledon debut with an 18-game winning streak against Djokovic, who has previously defeated Djokovic in the All England Club final two times.

The world number two is aware of the historical significance of his title bid over the upcoming two years, but he doesn’t want to be swayed by talk of Wimbledon immortality.

I’m arriving here believing that I’m in the best position to win the title. Alcaraz told reporters at the All England Club on Saturday, “I really want to lift the trophy, not thinking about how many players have won three Wimbledons in a row.”

I’m just contemplating, “Okay, I just want to be ready and just want to prepare myself the best.”

I’m obviously feeling very confident right now. But I’m just considering how to move forward and begin the tournament.

In a Grand Slam, two weeks can be very long. If I win three Wimbledons straight, I’m not thinking about who I might be a part of. ”

Alcaraz won the grass-court competition at Queen’s Club for the second time to prepare for Wimbledon.

Following his sensational run in the clay-court competition, that victory demonstrated that the five-time Grand Slam champion had returned to grass.

‘My best level.

Alcaraz won the French Open championship match against his Italian rival Alcaraz for the fifth time in a row after coming back from two sets down and saving three match-points against Jannik Sinner in a thrilling match.

Prior to his triumph at Roland Garros, he had already won clay competitions in Rome and Monte Carlo.

Alcaraz lost to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final in April, and he thinks the key to his blistering run is to play fearlessly.

“Yes, probably. When I’m just playing or just enjoying myself, without any other considerations, He said, “I have the freedom to play whatever I want.”

When that occurs, I always play tennis at my best and play at my best level. So far, I think I feel the most libertarian feeling, let’s say, because I’ve probably already played that game. ”

Alcaraz, who spent this week playing golf with former champion Andy Murray and dining in central London, is at his best when he is calm mentally.

It’s important to me to feel fantastic both off and on the court, according to me. I won’t play well if I’m feeling bad, bored, or like I don’t want to be there off the court, he said.

As the defending champion, it feels great to be back in Wimbledon. Thinking back on the events of the previous year is really beautiful.

“Just really excited to officially launch the tournament. See how I proceed. ”

With a 1-0 victory over Botafogo on Saturday, substitute Paulinho won the Club World Cup quarter-finals to end a Brazilian attrition-filled match.

The winger started the second half with Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira replacing teenage sensation Estevao Willian, a move that initially seemed strange but eventually turned out to be inspiring.

When Richard Rios intercepted a pass from Paulinho on the right flank and gave him the opportunity to enter the box before slotting a low shot into the far corner, the tie was at its 100th minute.

The Palmeiras’ fans, who made up the majority of the 33, 657 crowd inside Lincoln Financial Field, sparked wild celebrations, and Sao Paulo’s side held on to win the final-16 match despite having captain Gustavo Gomez sent off late on.

Palmeiras, who won the Copa Libertadores in 2020 and 2021, will now travel to Philadelphia for a final-eighteen tie against Chelsea or Benfica, who meet on Saturday in Charlotte.

In this encounter of the top two of the Brazilian league last year, they had been the more dangerous side, almost entirely due to the green men’s nearly every chance.

The Rio de Janeiro side Botafogo won the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history in 2024, beating Palmeiras to take the domestic title.

After that, they lost their coach and a number of important players, but they still managed to defeat Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup’s group stage to advance over Atletico Madrid.

In a game played in Philadelphia’s warm midday conditions, Palmeiras was the more lively of the two teams.

Estevao has been taken off, and what?

Estevao, an 18-year-old winger who will join Chelsea once the tournament is over and is regarded as Brazil’s next big thing, had everyone’s attention.

He struggled to make an impact in a game that had long been a subpar game that was ruined by moments of high quality.

In stoppage time, Colombian midfielder Rios fired a thunderous shot from the edge of the box that was deflected onto the top of the net.

After the restart, Estevao suddenly appeared, forcing Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor to make a good save before netting the ball, which was later denied by an offside flag.

When the starlet and Vitor Roque were both taken off shortly after the hour mark, with Luighi and Paulinho sent into the attack.

As normal time expired, Paulinho fired a high header past Mauricio from a Joaquin Piquerez cross before going over the bar.

The once-capped Brazil winger, who played for the Atletico Mineiro side that was defeated by Botafogo in the Libertadores final last year, pushed the score further into the extra-hundred minutes and a Rios piledriver was parried behind before the goal was finally scored.

The substitute was then promptly replaced, his job being completed.

After Paraguayan centre-back Gomez was booked for a second time in the 116th minute for grappling off the ball with Alexander Barboza, Botafogo pressed for an equalizer that would have caused a penalty shoot-out.

Aitana Bonmati, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner, is receiving treatment for viral meningitis, according to the Spanish football federation (RFEF) on Saturday.

In the world champions’ final warm-up match before Euro 2025 begins the following week, Bonmati was unable to recover from Friday’s friendly win over Japan.

After tests revealed that Bonmati had viral meningitis, she was “under ongoing medical observation,” according to the RFEF in a statement.

READ MORE: Manager Van Nistelrooy Resigns from Relegated Leicester

After suffering from a condition, Bonmati, 27, skipped a Thursday training session and later posted a photo of herself watching Japan’s 3-1 victory on social media.

After the match, Spain coach Montse Tome said she had no idea whether Bonmati would recover enough to play at the Swiss European Championship, which runs from July 2-27.

Meningitis can be frightening, but it is theoretically treatable, according to Tome.

She’s going to be gone for how long, we’ll find out. That is all I can say.

We’re going to wait for Aitana as long as possible because she’s a very important player.

The protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord are infected with meningitis. The less serious bacterial variant, which can cause death within 24 hours, is less serious than the more common bacterial one.

Before the boxers even leave their homes, Dambe’s first strikes are thrown.

Traditional medicine is inserted before it burns over in a fight, all of which are guaranteed to protect them in the ring or deliver a knock-out punch. They also don charms and amulets, dye their fists, and even score their arm with a razor.

They are unstoppable when combined with prayers from “mallams” or spiritual guides, not just in Nigeria but increasingly all over the world.

In the most recent evolution of a sport that has its roots in Hausa speakers, the Dambe World Series fetched its debut on Saturday in Abuja, the capital.

The West African Fighting Championship, the organization that organizes the tournament, founder Maxwell Kalu, said, “We want to professionalize it rather than try to westernize it, or try to make it something else.”

A key objective is also “opening the door in terms of inviting people to compete in Nigeria.”

The national stadium’s ground is the setting for the tournament, which was reportedly run by Hausa butchers in the 10th century.

Abdullahi “Coronavirus” Ali, a 20-year-old man who has been fighting since he was a child, declared, “This one is big, I’m very happy.” “Every day, the audience grows,” he says.

Two amateur fighters worked the ring behind Coronavirus during a pre-tournament exhibition match in Dei Dei, a working-class Abuja exurb, as he spoke to AFP.

Cigarettes swarmed above the crowd while pecking at the rickety wooden stands.

In Dambe, the fighters use their striking arm, which is their striking arm, with one fist tightly bound in rope instead of a glove. Before the fighting arm swings forward like a spring-loaded spring, the other hand reaches out and feels the gap between the opposing forces.

One fighter lost his balance in the middle of the blows, becoming a “kill.” The contest was over.

domestic and international expansion

As Abuja’s elite paved the way for modern skyscrapers and highways, Dambe may have once seemed destined to be confined to the margins in places like Dei Dei.

Along with private organizations like the WAFC, the government has started to care more about preserving and promoting the sport.

With the advent of Instagram and YouTube, Dambe is now a popular destination for fans from all over the world. One promoter reported to the BBC in 2017 that 60% of his viewers were from outside of Nigeria.

At home, the sport has also grown.

A Dambe game in the southern city of Lagos in 2018 attracted both curious about their northern counterparts’ pastimes and enthralled spectators.

For the African Knockout Championship, a mixed martial arts competition in the style of Western culture, athletes from all over the world converged on the megacity earlier this month.

However, Kalu sees foreigners traveling to see a distinct Nigerian style of conflict.

Professionalization also opens up the possibility for stable salaries and safety standards for the otherwise unregulated combat sport.

Usman Abubakar, 20, said, “If I get married, I won’t let my children do it.” His fist was dovetailed in a dark henna color and had charmed scars on his arm, which is reminiscent of a chest injury that required him to sit out for two years.

Foreigners are welcome.

The fighters from Saturday will compete for Nigeria in what is intended to be an international multi-stage series.

British national Luke Leyland traveled from Liverpool last year to compete in a Dambe match, reportedly the first white fighter to do so. The WAFC supported him.

Despite writing glowingly about the experience, one local media report called him “destroyed.”

The idea of sharing the spoils of victory is still a hot topic among Nigerian fighters.

“Coronavirus,” Abubakar, and Anas Hamisu, a third competitor, were all excited about the prospect of more people embracing their sport when asked what would happen if non-Nigerians started competing.