Chelsea FC has reached the quarter-finals of the club World Cup in the United States as the second team, but had to wait an unusually long time. The Londoners won 4: 1 (1: 1, 1: 0) after extra time against Benfica Lisbon.
The round of 16 was interrupted for almost two hours shortly before the end of the regular season. Due to a threatening storm over the unused stadium in Charlotte, referee Slavko Vincic sent football professionals to the cabins prematurely in the 86th minute. At that time, the Londoners led 1-0 (0: 0).
Due to the short residual season, the resentment among the players of the Premier League club was great. Several professionals talked to the referee, but remained unsuccessful in their attempts.
When the final phase started, the sky had darkened. Accompanied by urgent announcements of the stadium spokesman, the players left the lawn and finally the spectators the ranks. In the vicinity of the stadium, lightning strikes threatened, the World Association FIFA said.
Previously, captain Reece James Chelsea had given the lead with a directly converted free kick in the 64th minute. Benfica’s goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin was completely overturned in the goal hit, which fell beyond the left corner of the penalty area. Apparently the 23-year-old speculated that James would flank instead of shooting directly. However, the sharply kicked ball hit in the short corner. Trubin bunched in vain.
In the final phase, the Londoners strived towards progress, but were quickly stopped by the referee whistle. The interruption lasted 1:57 hours. Only after almost two hours were the remaining four minutes plus six -minute stoppage time.
Time that was sufficient for the Portuguese to get out of nowhere. Angel di Maria converted a penalty (90.+5) and saved his team into extension. The Londoners could no longer be stopped there. Christopher Nkunku (108.), Pedro Neto (114th) and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (117th) made the curious victory perfect. There were 4:37 hours between kick -off and the final whistle.
Palmeira’s first quarter -finalist
Palmeiras from São Paulo – much faster – had previously moved into the quarter -finals as the first club. Ex-Bundesliga professional Paulinho had shot his team into the next round. The substitute former Bayer 04 Leverkusen player scored the goal to 1-0 (0-0) in the Brazilian duel with Botafogo FR from Rio de Janeiro in extra time (100th minute).
Paulinho had only come into the game in Philadelphia in the 64th minute, and since January of this year he has been playing for the Brazilian champion from 2023. 2024 Botafogo had won the title and the Copa Libertadores. Even in overnight after a yellow-red card against Gustavo Gomez (116.), the team no longer scored a goal against Palmeiras.
