After an almost two -hour interruption because of an impending storm, the FC Chelsea Drained into the quarter-finals of the club World Cup. In the 4: 1 (1: 1, 0: 0) after extra time against Benfica Lisbon, the Londoners also ended Benfica’s goal scorer Angel di Maria. The determining topic was the next long interruption.
The Argentine football world champion DI Maria had only made the extension possible with a late converted penalty (90th+5 minute). Captain Reece James (64th minute), ex-Leipzig Christopher Nkunku (108.), Pedro Neto (114.) and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (117.) scored the goals for Chelsea.
Benfica also went under in the extension because Gianluca Prestiani (91.) saw yellow-red in this early. According to Nkunkus 2: 1, favored by a goalkeeper error, Chelsea countered twice.
Interruption in the 86th minute
Previously, the sky had darkened in the final phase. Referee Slavko Vincic therefore sent the players into the cabins in the 86th minute. In the vicinity of the stadium, lightning strikes threatened, the World Association FIFA said.
Accompanied by the stadium spokesman’s announcements, the spectators also left the ranks. Ultimately, however, it remained calm right above the stadium. The game was nevertheless unbroken for almost two hours.
“This is not a football”
The break brought Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca into rage. “You have already interrupted six games here. I find it ridiculous. This is not a football”the Italian scolded: “I can understand that you have to interrupt the game operations for security reasons. But if seven or eight games are interrupted, this is probably not the right place for this competition.”
Chelsea’s captain Reece James complained that it was simply annoying for the players to have to sit and wait so long.
After the interruption, Di Maria Benfica sent it to the extension from the point after Malo Gusto had jumped on the ball.
Chelsea now against Palmeiras
Because Prestiani had to get off the field because of repeated foul playing and Trubin had a durable ball through his legs in front of Nkunkus 2-1, Benfica was denied the big comeback at the end. This also fell for the 37 -year -old DI Maria, who will return to his youth club Rosario Central in Argentina.
For Chelsea, it continues early Saturday (CEST) in the quarter -finals in Philadelphia against Palmeiras from São Paulo. The Brazilian club had won the duel against Landesrival Botafogo FR from Rio de Janeiro 1-0 (0-0). The decisive goal scored the former Leverkusen Bundesliga professional Paulinho in extension (100th minute).