Chelsea coach criticizes: “The USA is not the right place for this competition”

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca criticized the USA for choosing the wrong venue after their memorable quarterfinal appearance at the Club World Cup. The 4-1 (1-1, 0-0) extra-time victory against Benfica Lisbon was delayed by nearly two hours due to impending storms. It was the sixth interruption due to storms in the 50th match of the newly created competition organized by FIFA.

"If they've already suspended six, seven, eight games, then something isn't working," Maresca said after the game. "The USA is not the right place for this competition." His captain, Reece James, complained afterward that it was simply annoying for the players to have to sit and wait for so long.

Referee Slavko Vincic sent the players to the dressing rooms early in the 86th minute as the sky darkened. World governing body FIFA announced that there was a risk of lightning strikes near the stadium. Accompanied by urgent announcements from the stadium announcer, the spectators also left the stands. Ultimately, the danger directly above the stadium remained rather abstract.

Due to a thunderstorm warning, the FC Bayern team landed in Fort Lauderdale this evening with a two-hour delay on their way to their round of 16 match against Flamengo.

In addition to its handling of the weather, FIFA has been criticized several times during the tournament for its match scheduling and pitch conditions. The USA will co-host the World Cup finals next year with Canada and Mexico.

Chelsea's victory against Benfica also ended the European career of goalscorer Angel Di Maria. The World Cup winner, who is moving from Benfica to his boyhood club Rosario Central in Argentina, had made extra time possible with a late handball penalty (90+5).

For Chelsea, James (64th minute), former Leipzig player Christopher Nkunku (108th minute), Pedro Neto (114th minute), and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (117th minute) scored the goals. Benfica were defeated in extra time, partly because Gianluca Prestianni (91st minute) received an early yellow card. After Nkunku's 2-1, aided by a goalkeeping error, Chelsea countered twice with icy coolness.

The many fans who headed home early missed the thrilling extra time that kicked off after the two-hour break. Di Maria sent Benfica into extra time from the penalty spot after the ball bounced off Malo Gusto's hand.

Because Prestianni had to leave the field for repeated fouls and Benfica's goalkeeper Anatolij Trubin let a saveable ball slip through his legs before Nkunku made it 2-1, Benfica were ultimately denied a major comeback.

Chelsea's next match in Philadelphia will take on Palmeiras of São Paulo in the quarterfinals early Saturday (CEST). The Brazilian club won the clash against their rivals Botafogo FR of Rio de Janeiro 1-0 (0-0) after extra time. Former Leverkusen Bundesliga player Paulinho scored the decisive goal in the 100th minute.