Premier League giants Chelsea thrashed Benfica 4-1 in dramatic fashion to progress to the quarter-final stage of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The Blues started the game with intense pressure on their opponents, creating several chances but failing to find the back of the net until they were awarded a free kick.
Reece James took a long-range shot that caught the goalkeeper off guard, giving Chelsea the lead.
The score remained unchanged until the 85th minute when the match was suspended for about two hours due to adverse weather conditions at the stadium.
When play resumed, Chelsea suffered a setback as Malo Gusto’s handball in the box awarded Benfica a penalty, which Ángel Di María converted to level the scores.
The game took a dramatic turn when Benfica defender Gianluca Prestianni was sent off for a reckless tackle early in extra time.
Chelsea quickly capitalised on their numerical advantage, scoring three more goals to seal an emphatic 4-1 victory.
Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Dewsbury-Hall were all on the scoresheet.
Chelsea will face Brazilian side Palmeiras in the quarter-final on July 5, 2025, with the winner advancing to the semi-final stage.
Watch the highlights below:
SB/MA
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