Chelsea Football Club secured a place in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup with a thrilling extra-time victory against Benfica, despite enduring an unusual two-hour weather delay at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. This match was a rollercoaster of emotions, highlighted by standout performances, controversial moments, and a significant interruption due to lightning.

The match commenced with Enzo Maresca's Chelsea side taking an early lead through a brilliantly executed free-kick by Reece James. The goal came as a result of James's quick thinking when he noticed Benfica's goalkeeper, Anatoliy Trubin, was out of position. With the score resting at 1-0, the atmosphere in the stadium was electric, but the excitement was abruptly halted in the 86th minute when play was suspended due to dangerous weather conditions, sending players and fans alike scrambling for cover.

After a prolonged delay of nearly two hours, the players re-entered the pitch to resume the contest. However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Benfica’s Angel Di Maria converted a penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time, which was awarded after a VAR review determined that Chelsea's Malo Gusto had handled the ball in the penalty area. This equalizing goal sent the match into extra time, raising the stakes for both teams.

The tension of the match escalated further when Benfica substitute Gianluca Prestianni received a red card at the start of extra time, leaving his team with 10 men. This development allowed Chelsea to capitalize on their numerical advantage. Just minutes later, in the 108th minute, Christopher Nkunku restored Chelsea's lead by scoring from close range, showcasing determination and poise in front of goal. Following Nkunku’s goal, Chelsea continued to dominate, and they quickly added two more goals: Pedro Neto scored in a swift counter-attack, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sealed the victory with a well-timed finish. The final scoreline of 4-1 reflected Chelsea's dominance in the match and confirmed their progression to face Brazilian side Palmeiras in the quarter-finals.

This encounter was marked not only by the weather-related delays but also by significant performances from individual players. Chelsea exhibited resilience throughout the game, significantly aided by goalkeeper Trubin, who made crucial saves that kept Benfica in contention for much of the match. The team’s overall performance was commendable, but questions surrounding the organization of the Club World Cup arose once more, especially considering that this was the sixth match to encounter weather interruptions.

On a side note, Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca made a strategic decision to start new signing Liam Delap up front as Nicolas Jackson served the second match of his suspension. Additionally, ahead of the match, Chelsea announced they had reached an agreement to sign winger Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, indicating their ongoing efforts to strengthen the squad.

Despite the controversies and challenges, Chelsea celebrated their hard-earned victory, with jubilant scenes erupting after Nkunku, Neto, and Dewsbury-Hall found the net. Their triumph keeps the club's aspirations for silverware alive as they prepare to face Palmeiras in the next round, scheduled for 2 AM on Saturday at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.