Chelsea Advances After Two-Hour Weather Delay at Club World Cup

Chelsea secured a place in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals after a dramatic 4-1 victory over Benfica, which was notably interrupted by a nearly two-hour weather delay due to lightning. Chelsea led 1-0 before the suspension, but Benfica equalized with a stoppage-time penalty, forcing extra time where Chelsea scored three more goals. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca expressed strong frustration over the lengthy delay and the overall impact of weather disruptions on the tournament, calling the situation a 'joke' and questioning the suitability of the United States as the host for the event. Maresca highlighted the difficulty of maintaining players' focus and fitness during such long interruptions and criticized the frequency of match suspensions in the tournament. Despite the setbacks, Maresca praised his team's performance as one of their best in recent months. Chelsea will next face Palmeiras in the quarter-finals, with the match scheduled to take place in Philadelphia.