In an electrifying showdown at Bank of America Stadium, Chelsea triumphed 4-1 over Benfica in the FIFA Club World Cup round of 16. Early in the game, Reece James set the tone with a stunning free kick in the 64th minute, giving Chelsea an early lead.
The match took an unexpected twist when a lightning delay extended the contest by two hours, stretching the action to nearly five hours of non-stop drama. With Benfica down a man after Gianluca Prestianni's red card, the stage was set for extra time heroics.
In the 108th minute, Christopher Nkunku capitalized on a rebound from Moises Caicedo’s shot, burying the deflected ball into the top right corner and igniting a wave of celebration among the fans. Goals from Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall further sealed the emphatic 4-1 victory.
Though Angel Di Maria managed a penalty to level the score temporarily, Chelsea’s resilience shone through. The win propels them to the quarterfinals, where they will face Palmeiras in Philadelphia. A match full of twists, delays, and unforgettable moments—truly a spectacle for football fans! ⚽️🌟
Reference(s):
Chelsea score 3 goals in extra time to beat Benfica at Club World Cup
cgtn.com
