Chelsea advances with four goals over Benfica
Chelsea FC booked a date with Brazilian side Palmeiras in the Club World Cup quarterfinals after defeating Portuguese side Benfica 4-1 after extra time at Bank of America Stadium in a match that lasted nearly four and a half hours due to a stoppage time.
Captain Reece James put Chelsea ahead from a direct free kick in the 64th minute, and Argentine veteran Angel Di Maria equalized from the penalty spot in the 90th minute. Substitute Christopher Nkunku then doubled the lead for the English team in the 108th minute. Goals from Portuguese forward Pedro Neto in the 115th minute and substitute Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the 117th minute sealed the Blues' victory.
Chelsea's next match will be against Palmeiras, who also beat compatriots Botafogo 1-0 after extra time, on July 4 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The match lasted four hours and 38 minutes, interrupted for an hour and a half as a precaution due to the threat of thunderstorms. It then went into extra time and several stoppages.
Chelsea consolidated their historic dominance over Benfica with their fourth victory, and their first since their last meeting in the 2013 Europa League final, when the Blues won the title.
This was Di María's final match for Benfica, as the 37-year-old will return to his parent club, Rosario Central, to conclude his career.
After extra time, Benfica suffered a severe blow when young Argentine substitute Gianluca Priestiano was sent off with a second yellow card for a tackle on Levi Colwill in the 92nd minute.