Chelsea survived a true odyssey to seal their place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Club World Cup. In an unprecedented match, interrupted by a thunderstorm for more than two hours, the English team beat Benfica 4-1 in extra time. A match that had it all: suspensions, a last-minute penalty, a sending-off, and ultimately, a thrashing.

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Christopher Nkunku, who had started as a substitute, was key in extra time. He took advantage of a defensive error to score the goal that broke the tie and put the Blues through to the next round, where they will face Palmeiras, who had previously eliminated Botafogo with a goal from Paulinho in the 100th minute.

The match at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte was the longest in the history of the tournament: four hours and forty minutes between the first and final whistles. Reece James put Chelsea ahead in the 64th minute, but just when it looked like the Londoners were guaranteed victory, a handball by Malo Gusto inside the box was awarded a penalty. Ángel Di María, in his farewell to European football, equalized from the penalty spot in the 90+8 minute. Chelsea imposes its hierarchy and Di María says goodbye with a goal. In extra time, with Benfica down to one man after Gianluca Prestianni was sent off, Chelsea took advantage of the space available. Nkunku scored the 2-1, Pedro Neto extended the lead with a lethal counterattack, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sealed the rout. The final scoreline doesn't reflect the close-fought nature of the match, but it does demonstrate the depth of the Blues' squad and their experience in these situations. On the other hand, the Portuguese team bids farewell with honor. Di María, who will return to Rosario Central, was the soul of the team. His goal in added time extended a match that seemed lost and he once again showed his class. Chelsea, who controlled much of the match, were surprised by Benfica's push after the restart.But despite the physical strain and numerical disadvantage, they eventually imposed their rhythm. Enzo Maresca's team is making steady progress and now faces an even tougher test against Palmeiras, who beat Botafogo 1-0 thanks to a stunning goal in extra time.