Chelsea defeated Benfica on Saturday evening to book their spot in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals.
The Blues took the lead in the 64th minute when Reece James caught out Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin with a clever free-kick. They were unable to cling on, though, as Angel Di Maria's penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage-time sent the match to extra-time.
Chelsea, however, were able to recompose themselves and extra-time goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall saw them win 4-1 and ensure their place in the last eight of the competition.
Why Chelsea vs Benfica Was Delayed For Nearly Two Hours
Enzo Maresca fumed after the game
Enzo Maresca
In the 87th minute, with Chelsea leading 1-0, the players were taken off the pitch due to bad weather. The returned to the pitch nearly two hours later and the final whistle finally sounded four hours and 38 minutes after the match kicked off. It is the sixth match that has experienced weather-related delays this tournament.
Enzo Maresca was absolutely furious about the delay and he did not hold back at all in his post-match press conference, calling the whole situation a 'joke' and 'not football'. He said, per the Mirror:
"It's a joke. That's why I said it. if they're already suspended six games, probably there is something that is not working. I'm not here to decide the rule. I'm no one to decide the rule. I'm the last one. I'm talking as a manager. As a manager, it's difficult to manage two hours suspended.
"There is some problem for me personally. But I'm not talking - I'm talking as a manager. Because when you are two hours inside and you try to keep them in the game, but for two hours, they are speaking with the family outside for safety reasons.
Chelsea vs Benfica was suspended due to bad weather
"They are eating something, they are playing, they are laughing. How can you keep them two hours inside, focused? Then we are happy. We are happy to be here. We are happy to be in this competition. But it's something that it's not normal for."
"I think it's a joke to be honest, it's not football. It's not for us. You cannot be inside. It's completely something you know, but I struggle to understand. I can understand that for security reasons, you are to suspend the game. But if you suspend seven, eight games, that probably is not the right place to do this competition."
Chelsea will face Brazilian side Palmeiras in the last eight of the competition, with the game due to take place on Friday July 4 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
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