Football
Benfica 1–4 Chelsea: Blues Dominate Extra Time After Lightning Delay to Reach Club World Cup Quarters
Chelsea booked their place in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals with a commanding 4–1 extra-time victory over Benfica on Saturday, June 28, in a match filled with late drama and an unusual weather delay.
The game at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte was halted for nearly two hours due to a lightning storm, with fans evacuated and players forced to wait in the dressing rooms during stoppage time.
When play resumed, Reece James gave Chelsea the lead in the 64th minute with a stunning free-kick. Just when it seemed the Blues had done enough, Ángel Di María converted a stoppage-time penalty for Benfica after a handball by Malo Gusto, sending the match into extra time.
Early in the added period, Benfica were reduced to 10 men when Gianluca Prestianni received a second yellow card—a moment that shifted the momentum firmly in Chelsea’s favor.
From there, the Premier League side took full control:
Christopher Nkunku restored the lead in the 108th minute, Pedro Neto added a third in the 114th, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall sealed the win in the 117th.
Chelsea’s quality in depth made the difference, as all three goal-scorers came off the bench to deliver a clinical extra-time performance.
The result sets up a quarter-final clash with Palmeiras on July 4 in Philadelphia, in a rematch of the 2021 Club World Cup final. Benfica exit the competition after a spirited showing but were undone by fatigue and a costly red card.
Football
Timeless Messi: Four-Goal Haul, Solo Wonder Goal And 7-1 Rout
Inter Miami ended their slump with an emphatic 7-1 thrashing of Montreal. Lionel Messi stole the show with a sensational four-goal haul, including a breathtaking solo strike after slaloming past three defenders.
The Argentine maestro, who also weighed in with an assist, delivered a performance for the ages. He got his first strike after his curling free-kick took a heavy deflection off Petrasso.
The No. 10’s second goal was a pure work of art. Collecting the ball from Luis Suarez on the edge of the ‘D’, the forward danced past three defenders in tight quarters before finishing clinically on his right foot. His third arrived via a trademark chipped finish after being slipped clean through on the goalkeeper. Finally, at 6-1, Lionel Messi capped the rout with a signature masterpiece: a sublime free-kick from the edge of the area.
Inter Miami brought an emphatic end to their recent slump ahead of Kily Gonzalez taking the managerial reins. In contrast, Messi, the leading marksman in MLS, took another step towards the landmark of 1,000 career goals, lifting his elite-level tally to 927.
besoccer.com
Football
BREAKING: Barcelona Reach Agreement With Arsenal For Gabriel Jesus
According to Fabrizio Romano, Barca have struck a deal with Arsenal to sign Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian will bolster the Blaugrana attack following the collapsed move for Julian Alvarez.
According to the report, both clubs have settled on a transfer fee of €10 million plus add-ons for the Brazil international.
The Italian journalist claims the transfer is fully sealed, with Gabriel Jesus scheduled to fly to Barcelona on Monday for a medical after receiving the green light from Arsenal.
At 29 years of age, the Brazilian striker departs the Gunners following four injury-hit seasons, during which he tallied 32 goals in 123 appearances. He is set to join Hansi Flick’s FC Barcelona, finally providing the German manager with a proven reinforcement in the No. 9 position after the exits of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.
besoccer.com
Football
Real Madrid To Sign Marc Cucurella From Chelsea
According to Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid and Chelsea have verbally agreed to sign Marc Cucurella. All parties, including the player, are believed to have agreed on the transaction; just the final details are still pending.
It is anticipated that the transaction will be completed for about 50 million euros. Romano claims that Jose Mourinho has made a special request to bolster the left-back position. Cucurella will join the Spanish powerhouses ahead of the upcoming season after leaving Chelsea following the World Cup.
The La Masia graduate is expected to make a significant transfer to the Catalan team’s fiercest rivals. Cucurella earned La Liga experience while playing for Eibar and Getafe before joining the Premier League.
Because of his performances, he was transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion, where he made an impression before landing a job at Chelsea. He made 50 appearances for the London team in 2025–2026, including 34 in the Premier League, and recorded one goal and four assists.
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