Reece James delivered a captain’s performance as Chelsea defeated Benfica 4-1 in extra time at the Club World Cup. They overcame a disastrous two-hour lightning delay that threatened their tournament in Charlotte. The Blues had dominated, thanks to James’s magnificent 65th-minute free kick, before Benfica staged a stoppage-time penalty comeback.
When play returned to the Bank of America Stadium after a two-hour pause due to the weather, the Blues capitalized on a red card to Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni and swept to victory. Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall all found the net in extra time.
The dramatic ending to the game masked just how much bedlam the weather had unleashed, with players warming up and struggling to maintain concentration during periods of uncertainty that lasted for two hours. Speaking about the delay, Reece James said:
“It wasn’t probably the most difficult [game] for 85 minutes and then we had to sit and wait for I don’t know how long. It took a lot out of the players. We cooled down and it was quite disruptive when you’re in the flow of the game. We needed to restart the engine.
“We were keeping the legs going on the bike – a little bit of stretching, some music to keep the vibes there. It was in the back of my mind that the game wouldn’t be completed.
“It was difficult. The climate was very hot and humid. The pitch wasn’t the best but we got the job done.”
James finished:
“We came so close the end and it was difficult to get that kick in the teeth, but to go on and score three goals probably shows how far we have come. The red card probably helped with that, but we did well to get over the line.”
Chelsea Boss Reacts to Two-Hour Delay
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was equally frustrated, venting his anger at the infrastructure and organization. He complained, expressing frustration with the delays that have marred this tournament at American grounds:
“When you are two hours inside… How can you keep them… focused? It’s a joke.”
This was the sixth weather-affected match already, with scorching heat and stunning storms bringing preparations to a standstill.
The Club World Cup is now an early gauntlet under the glare of the 2026 World Cup, which will also be held in the U.S. amid the summer heat. Chelsea were forced to truncate their first training session in Philadelphia due to the searing heat just days earlier. It added travel woes to their own difficulties after a group-stage debacle that saw a last-minute switch from Miami to Charlotte.