Chelsea turned on the style in extra-time to dump Benfica out thrashing them 4-1 in the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16. In a game that featured a rare lightning delay and was characterized by late-game shambles, the Blues were more clinical than the Portuguese giants, establishing a quarter-final date with Palmeiras.
In a game that was about stamina, patience and mind-set, Chelsea delivered. Enzo Maresca’s men led thanks to a 64th-minute stunner of a free-kick from Reece James, some kind of magic that should have ensured they wrested control together.
A powerful lightning storm forced officials to suspend play with just minutes remaining in regulation for nearly two hours. After the resumption, Chelsea never quite regained a rhythm. The referee penalised Malo Gusto for a handball, and Ángel Di María calmly converted the resulting penalty to bring Benfica level deep into stoppage time (90+5’).
Extra time arrived, and after Gianluca Prestianni received a second yellow in the 94th minute to reduce Benfica to 10 men, Chelsea immediately discovered their killer touch. Christopher Nkunku then applied the finishing touch from close range in the 108th minute, and the Blues could finally breathe a little easier. A third was soon to follow when academy product Diego Moreira Neto fired a powerful effort into the back of the net (114’) before Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall rounded off the scoring just three minutes later.
🏆 Chelsea thrash Benfica and advance in dominant fashion
⚽️ The Blues claimed a 4–1 win after an intense match that included a storm delay, a brilliant goal from Reece James, and three extra-time strikes by Nkunku, Neto, and Dewsbury-Hall 🔵🔜#beINSPORTS #FIFACWC #Chelsea pic.twitter.com/FQPLwwSrlc
The standout performer was Moisés Caicedo who was named the man of the match for his all around midfield performance. The Ecuadorian set the tempo, snuffed out attacks and calmly negotiated the storm —climate and tactical — that might have blown Chelsea’s season off course.
Maresca, though, wasn’t best pleased at the final whistle. He slammed FIFA’s handling of the weather and directly questioned why the United States hosts a tournament where conditions regularly reach dangerous extremes. “It’s a joke,” he said brusquely, pointing out that the stoppage affected both rhythm and player safety.
Benfica were full of hope going into the game and almost succeeded with an upset. Roger Schmidt’s side were level with Chelsea stride-for-stride for long spells in the match and did well after they went behind to make use of the weather delay to regather and reset minds.
Di María’s penalty handed them a well-deserved lifeline, and at 1-1, momentum appeared to have swung in their favor. But the reckless second yellow card for Prestianni, just four minutes into extra time, put paid to any realistic shot of making it through.
From then on, the fatigue, frustration and Chelsea’s better depth took control. Benfica’s well-drilled backline held firm for most of normal time but lost shape and looked stretched. They surrendered three goals nine minutes apart, their tournament coming apart spectacularly.
Chelsea kicked Benfica out of the FIFA Club World Cup! 🏆💙#ChelseaFC pic.twitter.com/ngYHS1kl2O
Despite the loss, Di María and João Neves were the standouts. The wily winger led by example under the cosh, Neves ran the midfield doing everything to justify top European clubs’ close eye on his services. Benfica will now return home with regrets but also some pride in how they pushed Chelsea to their limits—until the wheels fell off.
Weather drama will dominate headlines, but fans should remember how Chelsea stepped up and controlled extra time with authority. The team exhibited discipline, tactical clarity and, above all, killer instinct. Moisés Caicedo’s midfield masterclass proved his worth and reminded fans of his potential to anchor big matches.
This was not vintage over 90 minutes, but in knockout football, resilience is as important a virtue as style. Chelsea had both. The storm might have made a play for the night—but the Blues came out of it louder.
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