Why Chelsea vs Benfica Club World Cup Knockout Clash Was Suspended for Over 2 Hours

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The Chelsea vs Benfica Club World Cup crippled was suspended for astir 2 hours owed to thunderstorm threats
After extra-time goals from Nkunku, Neto, and Dewsbury-Hall, Chelsea booked a quarter-final clash against Palmeiras
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca lashed retired astatine the tourney organisers, calling the repeated delays a “joke”

Saturday's FIFA Club World Cup circular of 16 fixture betwixt Chelsea and Benfica was thrown into chaos erstwhile a looming thunderstorm forced the crippled to beryllium abandoned with conscionable minutes near connected the clock.

The game, played successful Charlotte saw the players taken disconnected the transportation successful the 87th infinitesimal arsenic acheronian clouds and the menace of lightning hovered above.

An contiguous announcement wrong the stadium confirmed a 30-minute break, but each lightning onslaught wrong a 10-mile radius reset the countdown, making it intolerable to foretell erstwhile play would resume, Football London reports.

Eventually, the hold stretched to astir 2 hours, with players and fans utterly bewildered.

The last whistle did not stroke until 4 hours and 38 minutes aft kickoff, making it 1 of the longest lucifer delays successful tourney history.

This bizarre interruption marked the sixth weather-related hold of the contention truthful far, raising superior questions astir the prime of big cities and their unpredictable summertime weather.

Chelsea clasp their nervus

Despite the pugnacious conditions, Chelsea managed to decorativeness the occupation connected the pitch.

The Blues had taken the pb successful the 64th infinitesimal done a free-kick from Reece James that caught Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin off-guard.

However, heavy into stoppage time, Angel Di Maria equalised from the punishment spot, sending the crippled into other time.

Rather than crumbling aft the delay, Chelsea responded with composure arsenic Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall each recovered the nett successful other clip to seal a 4-1 win.

With the victory, Chelsea secured their spot successful the quarter-finals, wherever they volition look Brazilian giants Palmeiras connected Friday, July 4, astatine Lincoln Financial Field successful Philadelphia.

Enzo Maresca slams tourney conditions

While Chelsea fans celebrated the win, manager Enzo Maresca was livid successful his post-match interview.

According to GiveMeSport, a visibly frustrated Maresca branded the concern a “joke” and “not football.”

Speaking to the media, helium said:

"If you’ve already suspended six games, astir apt there’s thing not working. You can’t support players wrong for 2 hours trying to enactment focused. They’re talking with family, eating, playing… It’s not football."

He added that portion helium respects information protocols, the recurrence of weather-related disruptions indicates a cardinal contented with the tournament’s planning.

Qualified teams for Club World Cup

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Real Madrid and Manchester City, the erstwhile 2 Club World Cup champions, pb the tournament’s line-up.

Inter Miami, featuring planetary superstar Lionel Messi, marque their debut successful the prestigious competition.

European powerhouses similar Bayern Munich, PSG, Chelsea, Juventus, and Inter Milan bring elite endowment and storied legacies.

Starting connected June 14 and ending connected July 13, the month-long spectacle promises thrilling football, featuring apical stars and clubs vying for the coveted rubric and a stock of the $1 cardinal prize pool.

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Source: Legit.ng

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