Chelsea have beaten 10-man Benfica 4-1 after extra time in a wild round of 16 match at the 2025 Club World Cup in Charlotte, North Carolina.
After Reece James had given Chelsea a 1-0 lead with a goal from a direct free kick, the match was suspended in the 86th minute for nearly two hours due to severe weather in the area. Once the match resumed, Benfica miraculously equalised deep in stoppage time thanks to Angel Di Maria’s goal from the penalty spot after VAR spotted a handball by Malo Gusto.
The miracle ended there for Benfica, however, as Gianluca Prestianni was sent off for a second booking early in extra time. Chelsea retook the lead in the 108th minute as Christopher Nkunku finished off a scruffy rebound, before Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall added late goals to wrap things up.
Chelsea advance to the quarter-final to face Palmeiras on Friday. [NY Times]
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