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On Day 15, both matches were decided in extra time: the Blues edged past Benfica after a surreal game suspended for two hours due to bad weather, while Palmeiras won the Brazilian derby with a goal by Paulinho.
Day 15 of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup delivered two long, physical, and emotionally charged matches that were only resolved in extra time. In Charlotte, Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea prevailed 4-1 over a gritty but chaotic Benfica, especially after the Portuguese side went down to 10 men, in a match interrupted for two hours due to severe weather. In Philadelphia, Palmeiras triumphed 1-0 in the all-Brazilian derby against Botafogo, thanks to a decisive goal by Paulinho in the 99th minute. The two winners will face off in the quarterfinals on Saturday, July 5.
Chelsea Too Much for Benfica: Maresca Into the Quarters
The Charlotte match was nearly endless, lasting over four and a half hours due to regular time, a long suspension, and extra time. Chelsea advanced with a strong and composed performance in key moments. After dominating the first half without scoring, the Blues finally broke the deadlock in the 64th minute with a free-kick from captain Reece James. Just as Chelsea looked in control, the match was suspended due to a weather alert, with only four minutes plus stoppage time remaining.
After a two-hour break, play resumed and brought plenty of drama: Di María equalized from the penalty spot in the 95th minute after a Gusto handball, but Benfica were reduced to ten men following Prestianni’s red card. Down a man, the Portuguese side lost their composure and tactical shape. Extra time was all Chelsea: goals from Nkunku (108’), Pedro Neto (114’), and Dewsbury-Hall (117’) sealed the win—and brought Di María’s European career to a close with a heavy defeat.
A Surreal Pause: Two-Hour Break and Maresca’s Frustration. What the Protocol Says.
The suspension of Chelsea-Benfica was the longest of the tournament so far: 113 minutes of delay due to the strict U.S. weather protocol, triggered by lightning in the vicinity of Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium. Players returned to the locker rooms, fans were evacuated, and only after nearly two hours was the game allowed to resume.
The U.S. protocol used during the Club World Cup mandates immediate stoppage of play if lightning is detected within 13 kilometers of the stadium, if winds exceed 65 km/h, if rain renders the pitch unplayable, or if visibility drops below 100 meters. The suspension must last at least 30 minutes, and play can only resume if no further dangerous conditions occur for the following 30 minutes.
Though designed for safety, the rule undoubtedly impacted the rhythm of the match. Benfica equalized through Di María right after returning to the pitch, forcing extra time.
Post-match, Enzo Maresca didn’t hide his frustration: “It’s a joke. This isn’t football. I understand stopping for safety, but maybe this isn’t the right place for this kind of match. It’s not normal to suspend a game for two hours. I’m happy, but some things are hard to accept.”
The manager also criticized how the interruption altered the game’s pace and intensity: “There were people laughing, eating with phones in hand. After two hours, it’s no longer the same game. When you have six or seven suspended matches, something’s wrong. This is a fantastic tournament with all the best clubs. We’re glad to be here, but it’s not normal to suspend a match like this. Across all World Cups and Euros, how many games were suspended? Probably zero. Here, six, seven, eight?”
MATCH SHEET: BENFICA-CHELSEA
BENFICA-CHELSEA 1-4 AET
Goals: 64’ James (C), 90+5’ pen. Di María (B), 108’ Nkunku (C), 114’ Pedro Neto (C), 117’ Dewsbury-Hall (C)
BENFICA (4-2-3-1): Trubin 5.5; Aursnes 5 (85’ Gouveia N/A), Antonio Silva 6.5, Otamendi 6.5, Dahl 5.5; Florentino 5 (70’ Prestianni 5), Barreiro 5.5; Di María 6.5, Kokcu 5 (85’ Veloso N/A), Schjelderup 5.5 (46’ Akturkoglu 5.5); Pavlidis 5 (70’ Belotti 5.5). Coach: Lage.
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Sanchez 6; James 7 (82’ Gusto 5.5), Badiashile 6.5 (69’ Adarabioyo 6), Colwill 6.5, Cucurella 6.5; Caicedo 6.5, Lavia 6.5; Pedro Neto 7, Fernandez 6 (81’ Dewsbury-Hall 6.5), Palmer 6.5; Delap 5.5 (80’ Nkunku 6.5). Coach: Maresca.
Referee: Vincic (Slovenia)
Yellow cards: Pavlidis, Caicedo, Florentino, Kokcu, Palmer, Colwill, Gouveia
Red card: Prestianni (92’)
Palmeiras Overcome All Obstacles: Botafogo Beaten in Brazilian Derby
In Philadelphia, Palmeiras got their revenge for 2023 against Botafogo with a hard-fought but deserved victory. The Brazilian derby was a tactical and physical battle, with no real chances in the first half but Palmeiras looking more dangerous. Estevão and Rios kept the pressure high, and John Victor made several key saves.
The game was decided in extra time: Paulinho scored in the 99th minute with a precise low shot after a sustained attacking sequence from the Verdão. In the closing minutes, Botafogo squandered two clear chances through Vitinho and Igor Jesus, and Palmeiras held firm even after going down to ten men due to Gomez’s sending off in the 116th minute. Coach Ferreira also lost Piquerez to suspension but now heads to the quarterfinals to face Chelsea.
MATCH SHEET: PALMEIRAS-BOTAFOGO
PALMEIRAS-BOTAFOGO 1-0 AET
Goal: 99’ Paulinho
PALMEIRAS (4-3-2-1): Weverton 6; Giay 6, Gomez 5.5, Fuchs 6, Piquerez 6; Emiliano Martinez 6 (91’ Moreno 6), Rios 6.5, Allan 6 (71’ Mayke 6); Estevão 6 (66’ Luighi 6), Mauricio 6.5 (85’ Torres 6); Vitor Roque 5.5 (63’ Paulinho 7, 103’ Micael 5.5). Coach: Ferreira.
BOTAFOGO (4-3-3): John Victor 6.5; Vitinho 6, Cunha 6 (83’ Kaio 6), Barboza 5.5, Alex Telles 5.5 (66’ Cuiabano 5.5); Allan 5.5 (66’ Montoro 5.5), Barbosa 5.5 (83’ Newton 6), Freitas 5 (102’ Arthur Cabral 6); Artur 5.5, Igor Jesus 5.5, Savarino 5.5 (71’ Correa 6). Coach: Paiva.
Referee: Letexier (France)
Yellow cards: Barboza, Alex Telles, Artur, Piquerez, Newton, Estevão, Marçal, Moreno, Weverton
Red card: Gomez (116’, second yellow)
