Chelsea have qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter-finals with a beautiful extra-time 4-1 win over Benfica which featured a two-hour weather delay at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday 28 June, 2025.
Enzo Maresca’s Blues went in front through defender, Reece James’ amazing free-kick, in the 64th minute, but, the Portuguese top flight club fought back and levelled in the 5th minute of additional time when Angel Di Maria scored from the penalty spot.
In the 86th minute, the showdown was suspended due to lightning in the vicinity of the almost-empty stadium.
Two (2) minutes into the extra-time, Benfica substitute, Gianluca Prestianni, was sent off after being shown the yellow card for the second time; this made way for the Premier League side to take control of the clash.
Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored in the 108th, 115th and 117th minutes respectively to move the Blues into the last eight stage of the tournament.
On the other side of the round of 16, Palmeiras discomfited Botafogo FR by a lone goal, this means Chelsea will lock horns with Palmeiras in the quarter final of the tournament.
Maresca started with new signing from Ipswich Town, Liam Delap, up front as Senegalese forward, Nicolas Jackson, served the second game of his suspension following his red card in the Group match against Flamengo.
