Benfica vs Chelsea clash in the Club World Cup Round of 16 🏟️:

🏁 Final Score: 0–0 (ongoing/penalty pending or extension anticipated)

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Played at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC, in sweltering conditions—around 32°C (~91°F), prompting a halftime cooling break  .

⚔️ First-Half Highlights

Chelsea seized control early, dominating possession (~60%) and peppering the Benfica goal. Their best chances included a powerful left-foot strike by Cucurella and a near miss by Delap—only to be thwarted by Benfica keeper Trubin and a goal-line clearance by Silva  . Benfica, organized and disciplined, relied on counter-attacks via Pavlidis and Di Maria but couldn’t unlock Chelsea’s resilient defense  . Despite Chelsea’s edge—5 shots on target to Benfica’s zero—the deadlock held firm. Breaking the drought will be vital in the second half  .

Reddit fans chimed in after halftime:

“Stadium looks empty! … It’s 91°F at the stadium, … one cooling break probably isn’t enough tbh.” 

“We have been all over them like a rash, we deserve to be up smh.” 

Chelsea’s dominance in possession (61%) and offensive intent contrasts with Benfica’s structured resilience  . If the game remains tied, expect it to go into extra time, possibly settled by penalties ().

🧠 Historical Stakes

This showdown echoes the 2013 Europa League final—won by Chelsea over Benfica, 2‑1. That result marked Chelsea’s historic run of winning all four major UEFA trophies  . The winner here will next face Palmeiras or Botafogo in the quarter-finals  .

⏭ Look Ahead

Second half: Chelsea must convert chances—more clinical finishing is needed. Benfica: Should stick to their defensive gameplan and exploit chances on the break. Outcome: Likely headed to extra time and penalties unless a late goal emerges.

💬 Final Thoughts

Chelsea’s clear control in the opening 45 has produced goal-mouth opportunities—but without a finish, the match remains in the balance. Benfica’s discipline keeps them in the hunt. As fatigue kicks in under the heat, it promises to be a tense duel moving forward.

Stay tuned—all roads lead to either extra time heroics or a dramatic shootout!