A wild Club World Cup round of 16 clash that will go down in football history — not just for the 4-1 scoreline, but for the surreal 2-hour interruption in the 86th minute.
Chelsea booked their spot in the quarter-finals after a dramatic night against Benfica, halted for two full hours due to a violent thunderstorm over Charlotte.
The Blues were leading 1-0 thanks to a stunning Reece James free-kick when the referee stopped play. Stadium evacuated, stands emptied, players pedaling on bikes in the locker rooms — all while lightning lit up the North Carolina sky.
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After an agonizing wait, the match resumed… and chaos followed. Angel Di Maria equalized in stoppage time, sending the match into extra time in his final European appearance.
Hollywood couldn’t script it better
But with Benfica reduced to ten men after Prestianni’s red card, Chelsea took control: Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Dewsbury-Hall sealed the deal. Final score: 4-1. Next up for the Blues: Palmeiras in the quarter-finals.
Emotional scenes as Di Maria bows out of European football — in the rain, in tears, and under the storm.
A match that had it all. Truly, Hollywood couldn’t script it better.
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