London’s “Chelsea” advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2025 Club World Championship, confidently defeating Portuguese “Benfica” with Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin between the posts, while “Benfica” suffered an embarrassing defeat and was eliminated from the tournament
The match in American Charlotte became a vivid example of dramatic struggle and unexpected events unfolding on the field. The English club, representing the Football Association of England, faced the Portuguese team "Benfica" in the Round of 16, which still featured Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin in its lineup. From the very first minutes, the game demonstrated a high level of tension and a strong desire to win on both sides. In the 64th minute, "Chelsea" opened the score thanks to a precise shot by young Italian midfielder James. At that moment, the London team appeared more confident and controlled the tempo of the game. However, an unexpectedly heavy rain that began late in the second half disrupted the match. The game was halted due to adverse weather conditions, and the players and referees attempted to adapt to the new conditions during a prolonged pause. When play resumed, "Benfica" recovered and equalized during stoppage time with a penalty converted by experienced Argentine forward Ángel Di María. This goal came as a shock to the English players and fans, as it effectively brought the game back to parity. Later, the Portuguese team found themselves a man down when Préstiani received a red card. Despite this, "Benfica" fought bravely into extra time, but ultimately failed to secure victory. "Chelsea" secured the win in the extra periods — goals were scored by N'Kunku, Nêtu, and Dewsbery-Gall. As a result, the final score of the match was 4:1 in favor of the English club. This victory allowed "Chelsea" to move forward in the tournament, taking a step toward securing the title. Their next opponent in the quarterfinals will be Brazilian "Palmeiras," who secured their place with a narrow 1:0 victory over "Botafogo." The upcoming round promises to be even more intense and spectacular. Meanwhile, the current club world champion remains Madrid's "Real," which defeated Mexican "Pachuca" 3:0 in the final last year in Qatar and claimed the title in the most prestigious competition in club football worldwide. Earlier, it was also reported that the champions of the Youth Euro 2025 football tournament in Ukraine had been determined, adding further interest to the global football calendar.