Chelsea, Palmeiras Survive Club World Cup Thrillers; Late Goals, Red Cards Define Victories

Chelsea and Palmeiras Advance in Thrilling Club World Cup Matches

The FIFA Club World Cup kicked off with two captivating Round of 16 matches that both required extra time to determine a winner. Chelsea secured a hard-fought victory over Benfica, while Palmeiras overcame a red card to defeat Botafogo.

Chelsea beat Benfica in the Club World Cup. (Image: AP)

Chelsea 4 - 1 Benfica

Chelsea's match against Benfica was initially delayed by over two hours due to a severe lightning storm in Charlotte. The delay forced the evacuation of players and fans, disrupting the flow of the game.

Once play resumed, the match remained competitive until the second half. Chelsea captain Reece James delivered a stunning set-piece goal to put his team ahead. Benfica's woes compounded when Prestianni received a red card. However, the Portuguese side responded resiliently, with Angel di Maria converting a penalty to equalize.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca acknowledged the game's challenges. "Very proud. The performance, for me, was top until 85 minutes when they stopped the game and it started a completely different game," he stated. He further added, "When you are inside for more than one hour, it’s not easy. But 1-1, and then we continued to play, and the reward was the one that we deserved."

In extra time, Chelsea dominated. Goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall secured their place in the next round.

Palmeiras 1 - 0 Botafogo

In an all-Brazilian clash, Palmeiras emerged victorious against Botafogo with a 1-0 win after extra time. Paulinho scored the decisive goal in the 110th minute. Despite a late red card for Gustavo Gmez in the 126th minute, Palmeiras held on to secure the win.

Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira praised his team's performance, saying, “We played an incredible game. We did very well in the 90 minutes and in extra time. We suffered together with one player less, but we deserved it.”

The Brazilian teams have shown impressive form in the competition and aim to progress further, posing a challenge to the top European sides.

Looking Ahead

The next round promises an exciting encounter as Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami faces PSG. This highly anticipated match will see the Argentine superstar compete against his former club. The reigning Champions League winners are also set to participate, adding to the excitement.