Following a 4-1 victory over Benfica in North Carolina following extra time, Chelsea became the first English team to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Reece James hit the game’s opening goal in the 64th minute on Saturday with a stunning free kick from a tight angle on the left.
After making a soft handball save against Malo Gusto, Angel Di Maria scored from the penalty spot in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
In extra time, Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall gave Chelsea a 2-0 lead before a quarterfinal meeting with Palmeiras.
After dominating the game from beginning to end, the Blues finally got what they deserved.
The referee at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte caused the players’ exit from the field of play due to a nearby lightning storm, which significantly delayed the game.
Despite having only four minutes left before the players left the field, the delay lasted nearly two hours. With victory in sight, the decision to halt the game so close to the full-time whistle stung with the players’ apparent resentment.
The inclement weather was caused by unusually high temperatures for the time of year. The United States hosting the FIFA 2026 World Cup, which will also take place in the United States in the summer, raises both the issue and the cause.
A Club World Cup game has been postponed six times because of bad weather.
When thunder or lightning strikes, outdoor sports events are required to be postponed for at least 30 minutes according to accepted public safety guidelines in the US.
The Blues had the best of the possession and chances in the first half, which came from Benfica’s Antonio Silva’s curling effort from just inside the box, well off the line.
When Cole Palmer was slipped into the box and fired a shot at the near post, it was Anatoliy Trubin’s Ukrainian goalkeeper, who made the best save possible.
The wide player’s effort was met with a moment of magic from James, who won the match at the near post, with the goalkeeper seemingly being more concerned with a potential cross.
Gusto left his arms flailing in the air, and the Video Assistant Referee had no choice but to call the referee to have the decision reviewed after the lightning delay. Despite the stormy conditions that surrounded the stadium, Di Maria coolly slotted home the kick.
After the lengthy delay in the match, Benfica’s comeback was merely another annoyance for Chelsea, whose job was made easier by Gianluca Prestianni’s second yellow yellow.
After just two minutes of extra time, the Benfica forward received a second yellow for a late tackle after being booked during the celebrations for his side’s equaliser.
First to reach the CWC quarterfinals, Palmeiras
With a 1-0 victory over Brazilian league rival Botafogo, Paulinho fought his way between two defenders before heading home in extra time on Saturday to place Palmeiras in the quarterfinals.
In the 100th minute, Paulinho made an inside cut from the right wing and dribbled through the defense. He has made one appearance for Brazil’s national team. The lower left corner of John’s net was then slashed with left-footed effort.
In the final minutes, Botafogo had numerous chances to equalize, but he was unable to do so.
A total of 35 shot attempts were made during the game at Lincoln Financial Field. However, Palmeiras’ substitution for defender Gustavo Gomez resulted in the match being ended with 10 men.
In the 116th minute, Gomez tackled Igor Jesus in midfield to stop Botafogo from starting a counterattack, but he was shown a second yellow card.
The 33, 657 fans who were present helped to create the atmosphere for the game by continuously cheering and bringing the South American feel to the game.
Bruno Fuchs, the defender for Palmeiras, said: “Coach has been saying since the beginning of the season that we have a dream and dreaming costs nothing.”
Source: Aljazeera
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