Chelsea Clinches Club World Cup in Weather-Delayed Marathon Match Alternatively: Chelsea Victorious After Club World Cup Clash Plagued by Lengthy Weather Interruption

Chelsea Endures Weather Delay to Secure Club World Cup Victory in Extra Time Thriller

CHARLOTTE -- What began as a promising season teetered on the edge of the absurd as Chelsea ultimately prevailed in a Club World Cup match that stretched for an astounding four hours and 38 minutes. Despite any pre-match concerns about a potentially grueling campaign, the reality far exceeded expectations as the Blues battled Benfica in a game punctuated by a lengthy weather delay.

The final score of 4-1 in favor of Chelsea secured a quarterfinal berth against Palmeiras next Friday. Goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in extra time finally decided a match that will be remembered for its unprecedented interruptions.

The Chelsea squad will undoubtedly appreciate the six-day recovery period following this ordeal. An earlier strike by Reece James in the 64th minute initially appeared to seal a hard-fought, albeit lackluster, victory. However, the game was far from over.

Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic halted play with just four minutes remaining due to a severe weather warning, forcing players and fans alike to seek shelter within the Bank of America Stadium.

As a storm raged across North Carolina, the resumption time was repeatedly postponed. Chelsea players remained in the locker room, some using exercise bikes to stay warm. Eventually, a rainbow appeared, but with the looming threat of another storm, both teams agreed to a shortened warm-up period in an attempt to conclude the match before further disruptions.

The drama continued. A header from Nicolás Otamendi struck Malo Gusto's hand as he jumped to defend. Despite Gusto facing the other direction and showing no clear intent to handle the ball, the referee deemed the hand to be in an unnatural position, awarding Benfica a penalty.

Ángel Di María converted the spot kick to equalize in the fifth minute of added time, pushing the game to almost 8 p.m. local time. A significant portion of the 25,929 spectators had already departed.

However, those who left early missed a dramatic finish. Gianluca Prestianni received a second yellow card early in extra time, giving Chelsea a crucial advantage. Cole Palmer located Moisés Caicedo in the box, whose shot was saved by Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. The rebound fell to Nkunku, who swiftly fired the ball into the net.

Benfica's fate was sealed as they conceded two additional goals on the counterattack. Neto scored his third goal in four games with a clear run, followed by Dewsbury-Hall who finished with a clever chip.

Despite the victory, Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca expressed his frustration with the circumstances, noting that this was the sixth Club World Cup match to be interrupted by inclement weather.

"For 85 minutes we were in control of the game," Maresca stated. "We didn't concede anything, we created chances enough to win the game. And then after the break, the game changed completely. I think for me personally it's not football."

He added, "It's already seven, eight, nine games that they suspended. I think it's a joke to be honest, it's not football...But if you suspend seven, eight games that means that probably is not the right place to do this competition."

Maresca emphasized his appreciation for the competition but questioned the frequency of weather-related suspensions, suggesting a need for review and potential solutions.

The match raised concerns about the tournament's overall presentation. Attendance was low, the pitch conditions were suboptimal, and the lengthy delay posed logistical challenges for players and fans alike.

The game highlighted the challenges players may face, with two cooling breaks in addition to the two-hour storm delay.

Maresca concluded, "As I said, the game was very good for 85 minutes...Then we had an hour and a half, two-hour stop. Then it started completely different. It's not the same game...because you break the tempo."

Following the match, Chelsea traveled back to Miami before flying to Philadelphia. Caicedo will miss the game against Palmeiras due to suspension. Looking ahead, there's much to consider: Palmer's promising performance on the left, the second start of Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, and Enzo Fernández in midfield together, and whether Liam Delap has secured his place ahead of Nicolas Jackson's return from suspension.

After a prolonged period of chaos, Chelsea now desperately seeks a period of calm.