What began as a standard football match between Chelsea and Benfica at the FIFA Club World Cup in Charlotte, North Carolina, on June 29, 2025, quickly devolved into an extraordinary spectacle, lasting an unprecedented four hours and 38 minutes. This chaotic encounter saw Chelsea emerge victorious with a 4-1 win in extra time, booking their spot in the quarterfinals against Brazilian giants Palmeiras.

Chelsea initially took the lead in the 64th minute through a well-struck free-kick from Reece James. However, with just four minutes remaining in regulation time and Chelsea leading 1-0, Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic halted the match due to a severe weather warning. Lightning in the vicinity of Bank of America Stadium prompted a “seek cover protocol,” forcing players from the field and fans to the safety of the concourse. This suspension, initially set for 30 minutes, was extended multiple times, keeping both teams waiting for nearly two hours to play out the remaining few minutes of the second half.

Upon resumption, the game took another dramatic turn. In the fifth minute of added time, Benfica was awarded a controversial penalty after the ball struck Malo Gusto's hand while he was facing away. Despite the apparent lack of intent, the handball was deemed to be in an unnatural position. Ángel Di María calmly converted the spot kick, equalizing for Benfica and pushing the match into extra time. Many of the 25,929 attendees had already departed during the extended delay, missing the dramatic conclusion.

The extra-time period saw Chelsea make their numerical advantage count. Gianluca Prestianni of Benfica received a second yellow card just two minutes into extra time for a rash challenge, reducing his team to 10 men. Chelsea capitalized swiftly; Christopher Nkunku reacted quickest to a rebound off Anatoliy Trubin's save to fire high into the net in the 108th minute. Pedro Neto then raced clear for his third goal in four games in the 114th minute, followed by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's clever dinked finish in the 117th minute, sealing Chelsea's emphatic 4-1 victory.

Following the match, Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca expressed his profound frustration and outrage at being forced to complete a game under such disruptive conditions. He highlighted that this was the sixth occasion at the Club World Cup where a match had been stopped due to bad weather, calling it