Benfica 1-4 Chelsea Highlights, FIFA Club World Cup Rd Of 16: Blues Enter Quarter-Finals After Big Win

The match kicks off at 1:30am IST. The Benfica vs Chelsea, FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 game will be live streamed for free on the DAZN platform in India. It will not be telecast on any TV channel in the country.

The opening round of 16 match of the tournament has just drawn to a thrilling conclusion. After a 0-0 scoreline at full-time, Palmeiras find an extra-time winner from Paulinho to knock out their Brazilian rivals Botafogo. The Sao Paulo giants will now meet the winner of this clash between Benfica and Chelsea, in the quarter-finals.

This is how the Blues line up for their knockout encounter against Portuguese rivals Benfica:

And here is Benfica's line-up to combat Chelsea's firepower in North Carolina tonight:

Before tonight, Benfica and Chelsea have locked horns three times in competitive matches and it is the Blues who have won each of these games. Their most recent run-in was 12 years back, in the 2012 Europa League final where Chelsea emerged 1-0 victors.

It's almost time. The two teams are out on the pitch on what is a sunny afternoon in Charlotte, North Carolina. The customary handshakes are out of the way and we will have kick-off next.

We are underway at the Bank of America Stadium. Chelsea attacking from right to left and Benfica from left to right in the first half. The Blues create a chance in the very first minute, as Pedro Neto dodges his marker and enters the box before unleashing shot directly towards goalie Anatoliy Trubin. No harm done.

Chances at both ends in the first 15 minutes. Angel di Maria doing the bulk of the offensive damage, as usual for Benfica and the likes of Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez feeding balls for Chelsea teammates to hopefully convert.

Antonio Silva pulls off a superb goal-line headed clearance to deny Marc Cucurella in the 20th minute. Liam Delap sets up a smart assist for Cucurella in the box and the Chelsea defender strikes it towards the top corner, but Silva backs up his goalkeeper to keep Benfica safe.

The players are back from a cooling period which has been necessitated by the severe heat at the American venues of the Club World Cup. Cole Palmer goes for goal soon after resumption, but his long-ranger is kept out.

Chelsea continue to create more chances, though to no avail yet. The Benfica defence has kept them at bay so far, with custodian Anatoliy Trubin in particular doing well. Marc Cucurella's shot is kept out by Trubin's outstretched arm, and we are now into the 44th minute and goalless.

After three minutes of added time, the first half comes to an end with a goal yet to be scored. Chelsea have had the better 45 minutes, organized well in offence and defence and generating far more genuine opportunities to score.

We are back underway in Charlotte. Chelsea now attacking from left to right and Benfica from right to left. Remember that if the match remain goalless at full time, we will have extra time (two halves of 15 minutes each) and penalties if need be.

A huge chance goes abegging for Chelsea. Cole Palmer's probing cross into the Benfica box is headed clear by Otamendi. Liam Delap was waiting at the goalmouth but the ball does not get to him.

A couple of yellow cards in quick succession as the midfield battle heats up. Moises Caicedo has been booked for a foul on Leandro Barreiro, which means the Chelsea midfielder would not play the quarter-final against Palmeiras if the Blues do advance.

It is followed by Florentino being shown the yellow card for bringing Cole Palmer down.

Chelsea finally go ahead! The cagey, scrappy encounter is brought to life as Reece James curls a free-kick low into the near corner to beat Anatoliy Trubin in the 64th minute. It was a surgical strike of sorts, bypassing the defensive wall and outsmarting Trubin, who was perhaps expecting a cross instead of a direct attempt.

There. That was the big chance for Benfica to equalise. Gianluca Prestianni misses to the left after being assisted by Fredrik Aursnes in the 78th minute.

Liam Delap finds the back of the net in the 80th, but the goal is disallowed for offside. He is substituted soon after for Christopher Nkunku, along with a couple more from the Blues: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for Enzo Fernandez and Malo Gusto for the goal-scoring Reece James.

Well, well, well. What do we have here. Play has been stopped in Charlotte owing to a storm threat and the spectators been asked to head into the concourse. Chelsea players protest vehemently, and perhaps understandably as they lead 1-0 with just four minutes remaining in regulation time. But safety of everyone takes precedence.

A number of matches have been affected in the ongoing Club World Cup due to adverse weather amid the American summer, with thunderstorms, severe heat and lightning all coming into play at different stages. The previous game involving Benfica to be stopped was a group-stage clash against Auckland City in Orlando. It had to be halted for almost two hours due to a lightning storm in the area.

FIFA, the global football body organising the tournament, issues the following statement on the weather delay: "Due to adverse weather conditions in Charlotte, including the risk of lightning in the vicinity of Bank of America Stadium, the FIFA Club World Cup match between SL Benfica and Chelsea FC has been suspended. A 30-minute break has been foreseen. FIFA will follow the established safety protocols, and the match will resume as soon as it’s safe to do so."

Like we said earlier, this is one of multiple games to be paused at the 2025 Club World Cup owing to inclement weather. The count is now up to six. The previous five games to be affected are: Ulsan vs Mamelodi Sundowns on June 17 in Orlando, Pachuca vs RB Salzburg in Cincinnati on June 18, Palmeiras vs Al Ahly in East Rutherford on June 19, Benfica vs Auckland City in Orlando on June 20 and Auckland City vs Boca Juniors in Nashville on June 25.

It is now over an hour since play was stopped. Lightning is reportedly still ongoing, and we have no official word yet on when (and if) the match will resume. Remember that just four minutes of regulation time remain in the clash, with Chelsea leading 1-0.

Joao Veloso was substituted more than one hour ago and he is yet to touch the ball. The match is not expected to resume soon. Stay tuned for further updates.

The officials have agreed for the match to resume. The players are on the pitch and the fans are eagerly waiting for the whistle of the referee.

The match has resumed after a big delay. The game resumed with Angel Di Maria taking the free kick but the ball was cleared. Chelsea are in lead and six minutes have been added in the second half.

90' - BEN 0-1 CHE

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was booked, but the play took a dramatic turn as referee Slavko Vincic consulted VAR and awarded Benfica a penalty. Angel Di Maria stepped up and slotted it home, sending the Benfica players into jubilation.

90+5' - BEN 1-1 CHE

We failed to get any result in the added time, so officials have gone for the extra time for the match. Gianluca Prestianni got a red card and Cole Palmer of Chelsea was shown a yellow card at the start of this extra time.

94' - BEN 1-1 CHE

Levi Colwill was booked. Marc Cucurella whipped in a dangerous cross, but the defense cleared it. Chelsea earned a corner and piled men into the box to try and create a scoring opportunity.

104' - BEN 1-1 CHE

Christopher Nkunku tapped home the rebound with precision, sending the ball into the roof of the net to give Chelsea the lead.

108' - BEN 1-2 CHE

Pedro Neto showcased brilliant finishing, creating space inside the box and slotting the ball past the keeper into the left post with clinical precision.

115' - BEN 1-3 CHE

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall of Chelsea collected a sweet pass and fired a shot inside the right post. Chelsea finished the game with a score of 4-1. They have entered the quarter-final of the FIFA Club World Cup with this sensational win.

Full Time - BEN 1-4 CHE

Chelsea won the match and entered the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. That's all from our side. Goodbye and take care!