Chelsea Endure 4-Hour Club World Cup Saga Marked by Weather Delay and Late Drama

Weather Delay Can't Stop Chelsea in Bizarre Club World Cup Match

CHARLOTTE -- What felt like an endless season for Chelsea culminated in a Club World Cup match that stretched the limits of endurance. The Blues ultimately secured a 4-1 victory against Benfica, but the game's total duration clocked in at an astonishing four hours and 38 minutes.

The win sets up a quarterfinal clash against Palmeiras next Friday, thanks to extra-time goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Chelsea will undoubtedly welcome the six-day recovery period after this ordeal. Reece James' 64th-minute free kick initially seemed to have secured a hard-fought victory, but the match was far from over.

Unexpected Interruption

The game was halted by Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic with just four minutes remaining due to a severe weather warning. Players were forced off the field, and fans sought shelter within the Bank of America Stadium.

The proposed resumption time was repeatedly delayed as a storm raged around the stadium. Chelsea players remained inside the locker room, some attempting to stay active on stationary bikes. A rainbow eventually appeared, but with the threat of another storm looming, both teams agreed to a shortened warm-up before squeezing in the final minutes.

Late Drama

The drama continued when Nicolás Otamendi's header struck Malo Gusto's hand in the box. Despite Gusto facing the other way and appearing to have no intent to handle the ball, a penalty was awarded. Ángel Di María converted the spot kick in the fifth minute of added time, leveling the score at almost 8 p.m. local time, by which point many of the 25,929 spectators had already left.

Extra Time Decides It

The remaining fans were treated to a thrilling finale. Gianluca Prestianni received a second yellow card early in extra time, and Chelsea capitalized on their numerical advantage. Cole Palmer found Moisés Caicedo in the box, whose shot was saved by Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. However, the ball spilled free, and Nkunku reacted quickest to score.

Benfica's resistance crumbled, and they conceded twice on the counterattack. Neto scored his third goal in four games, followed by Dewsbury-Hall with a clever finish.

Manager's Frustration

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca celebrated with fans but expressed his frustration with the conditions. He highlighted that this was the sixth Club World Cup match disrupted by bad weather.

"For 85 minutes we were in control of the game," Maresca said. "And then after the break, the game changed completely. I think for me personally it's not football... I can understand that for security reasons, you are to suspend the game. But if you suspend seven, eight games that means that probably is not the right place to do this competition."

Maresca acknowledged the competition's prestige but questioned the high number of suspensions.

Tournament Concerns

The match raised concerns about the tournament's organization. The attendance was low, the pitch conditions were suboptimal, and the lengthy delay created logistical challenges for players and fans.

Maresca emphasized the negative impact of the two-hour break on the game's flow. "It's not the same game because you break the tempo," he said. "It's two hours. That's why I said it's not football."

Chelsea is now focused on their upcoming match against Palmeiras. Caicedo will be suspended, and the team has several issues to address.

Despite the chaos and controversy, Chelsea secured the win and now looks forward to a period of much-needed calm.