Thunderstruck! Chelsea ride fortunes in wild last-16 victory over Benfica

Chelsea are into the quarter-finals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup  but they were made to work for it as they defeated Benfica 4-1 on Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Premier League side came out with attacking intent but were constantly thwarted by the Benfica defence, which bent but didn't break for the majority of the match.

It took a fabulous Reece James free-kick to break the deadlock and it looked as though that was all the scoring that would happen before a two-hour weather delay paused proceedings in the 86th minute. When play resumed, a rejuvenated Benfica side pushed for the leveller, which they got in stoppage time through Angel Di Maria.

However, an ill-advised tackle by Gianluca Prestianni near the beginning of extra time turned the game on its head, as it allowed Chelsea to stretch the play and take advantage of tiring Benfica legs to the tune of three ET goals.

Here are the key talking points from Chelsea's narrow victory over Benfica, as seen by DAZN News.

Reece James brilliance

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Chelsea had no answers for Benfica's resolute defending until just after the hour mark as James' brilliant free-kick gave the Premier League giants a well-deserved advantage.

The Blues' captain lined up for a free-kick from near the sideline, seemingly looking to whip in a cross towards the penalty spot for his teammates to run on to. Instead, James spotted Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin slightly out of position and hit an inch-perfect effort inside the near post.

It was a moment of magic that Chelsea desperately needed as they were growing visibly frustrated in their inability to find a goal despite creating several good chances.

And while it ultimately didn't prove to be the winner, James' goal provided relief to a Chelsea attack that seemed out of answers to that point.

Benfica defence nearly gets it done

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Benfica showed in the group stage that they are not a team that will give up a lot of goals, especially against a high-powered Bayern Munich side on the final matchday of Group C.

They carried that momentum into Saturday's match as they frustrated a Chelsea side who did their best to create chances. That the Premier League giants would eventually score four is almost immaterial as Chelsea's only open play goals came when the Portuguese club were down to 10 men in extra time and had clearly hit the wall.

In the first 90 minutes, Benfica managed keep Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer under wraps as the England international could not get anything going despite being very involved in the play. Benfica surely aimed to keep Palmer's influence to a minimum, and they succeeded in that respect, but it wasn't enough as the Blues found a way to win anyway.

Mother Nature always wins

Ominous clouds took over the skies in Charlotte but nothing was deemed dangerous until the 86th minute, when lightning strikes in the area forced a two-plus hour suspension of the match.

It was an irritating turn of events for both sides as Chelsea were within minutes of winning and Benfica were pushing for an equaliser and enjoying more of the ball than they had for most of the match up to that point.

Of course, safety is paramount and the game was eventually able to be completed, but it serves as a reminder that Mother Nature holds the ultimate power.

Given that this was not the first match to be delayed or suspended due to harsh weather at this Club World Cup, fans and teams should prepare for more possible disturbances as the tournament continues through the American summer — and for some matches to be suspended at next year's FIFA World Cup.

Di Maria bows out

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Tears flowed as Angel Di Maria walked off the pitch at Bank of America Stadium, with Saturday's match being his last for Benfica.

The Argentine legend announced that he would leave Benfica at the end of this tournament as a return to boyhood club Rosario Central beckons for the 37-year-old, but he would surely have liked to extend his stay with the Portuguese side for another week or two.

Instead, Di Maria departs Benfica for the second time, although he did score the club's only goal on Saturday and now leads the Club World Cup's Golden Boot race.

Benfica vs Chelsea match highlights

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