Chelsea Outclass Benfica in Lightning-Interrupted Thriller
A packed Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte saw one of those nights when football feels like a scripted movie. The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Round of 16 clash between Chelsea and Benfica was expected to ignite passions, but nobody predicted the wild combination of weather chaos, drama, and a confident English side running riot in extra time.
The match, kicking off at 4 p.m. ET with global coverage on DAZN, began with tense midfield battles and both teams probing for weaknesses. The first 60 minutes delivered little separating the sides. Then, in the 64th minute, Reece James—who's becoming notorious for his set-piece skills—stepped up to a free kick on the edge of Benfica’s area. He didn’t disappoint, curling the ball around the wall and past the outstretched Benfica keeper, sending Chelsea’s away fans into wild celebration.
The drama, however, wasn’t close to done. Just as Benfica pushed desperately for a late equalizer in the 86th minute, the match came to an abrupt stop. Stadium officials relayed a lightning alert, triggering FIFA’s strict protocol. Players and coaching staff hustled off, and stewards guided over 60,000 fans to find shelter while thunder rumbled across the Carolina sky. The storm was persistent too, as each lightning strike reset the mandatory 30-minute delay clock, stretching out the tension well into the evening.
By 7:35 p.m. ET, players finally began rewarming on the rain-slicked pitch, visible relief and determination written on their faces. At 7:45, whistle blows signaled a surreal restart. Benfica, perhaps cooled by the enforced pause, found themselves struggling to regain rhythm. Chelsea, in contrast, looked like a team shot out of a cannon, shifting gears as soon as extra time kicked in.
Three more goals told the story of the night. Chelsea’s young forward netted an early strike in extra time, sapping any remaining hope for the Portuguese side. Two further goals followed in quick succession as substitutes fed off tired defenders and exploited every gap in the back line. Benfica managed a solitary consolation, but their body language told the story—heads down, legs heavy, dreams of a Club World Cup run dashed by an English side that smelled blood.
Key Moments and What Happens Next
James’ brilliant free kick set the tone, but the game’s defining feature was the lightning-induced break—a first in recent Club World Cup history—forcing everyone involved to cope with shifting rhythms and focus. Fans, meanwhile, huddled under stadium awnings and chatted on their phones, swapping weather memes and nervous jokes as they waited for updates.
- Weather Delays: Not many matches at this level face a genuine atmospheric threat. This unexpected break was an ordeal for everyone, but Chelsea’s fitness and mentality shone through the test.
- Extra Time Surge: Chelsea’s physical conditioning looked a cut above as they scored three goals in extra time with dazzling speed and precision—making their path to the quarterfinals look almost routine by the final whistle.
- Quarterfinal Showdown: The win sends Chelsea straight to a high-stakes quarterfinal tie with Palmeiras, a team with plenty of experience on the world stage and hungry for their own headlines.
This match will be remembered for relentless weather and relentless football. For Chelsea supporters, it’s one to savor; for Benfica, the long trip home just got a little longer.