Chelsea outlast Benfica in weather-delayed Club World Cup last-16 thriller

In a match that spanned four hours and 39 minutes due to a near two-hour storm delay, it was Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall who delivered in extra time to send the Premier League side through to face Palmeiras.

Reece James looked to have given Chelsea the win in regulation with a smartly taken free-kick in the 86th minute. But just minutes later, play was suspended as a thunderstorm rolled into Charlotte, forcing players off the pitch and leaving over 70,000 fans waiting in uncertainty at Bank of America Stadium.

When play finally resumed, Benfica found a lifeline. A VAR check ruled that Malo Gusto had handled the ball in the area, allowing Angel Di Maria to convert from the spot deep into stoppage time and send the tie into extra time.

Benfica, already down to 10 men following a red card to Gianluca Prestianni at the end of regulation, briefly threatened to snatch the lead. But it was Chelsea who proved more clinical in the decisive moments.

Nkunku restored Chelsea's advantage in the 97th minute, reacting quickest to a loose ball after Moises Caicedo's shot was spilled by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin. That strike opened the door for Chelsea to exploit Benfica's increasingly fragile shape.

Neto added a third in the 114th minute with a composed finish after racing through on goal, and Dewsbury-Hall rounded off the scoring shortly after to complete a commanding extra-time display.

It was a match marked as much by its unpredictability as by its quality, but Chelsea's late surge ensured Enzo Maresca's side avoided an early exit and kept their hopes of Club World Cup glory alive.