Bizarre Interruption at the Club World Cup: Chelsea vs Benfica Match Lasted Nearly Five Hours!
Have you ever watched a football match that lasted almost five hours? No? Well, now you get to hear about one! At the Club World Cup, the match between Chelsea and Benfica in Charlotte, North Carolina, turned into a true marathon.
What happened?
The match started at 4:00 PM local time and seemed like a regular game. However, just four minutes before the end of regular time, with Chelsea leading, the match was abruptly stopped due to an approaching thunderstorm. Yes, you read that right – a thunderstorm forced the referee to halt the game with only four minutes left!
Why the stoppage?
In the United States, there are strict safety protocols for outdoor sporting events. When lightning is detected within a 13-kilometer radius, the game must be stopped for at least 30 minutes. In this case, the storm was detected 10 kilometers from Charlotte, so referee Slavko Vinčić had to pull the players off the field.
Shock and disbelief
Many were confused and angry about the stoppage since only a few minutes remained. But rules are rules, and safety comes first. After nearly two hours of delay, the players returned to the pitch to finish the remaining minutes and extra time.
How did it end?
In extra time, Benfica managed to turn the game around. Di María scored a penalty, and the Portuguese side received a red card, which further complicated things for Chelsea. In the end, Benfica claimed a convincing victory.
What does this mean for football?
This match is yet another example of how important weather conditions and safety protocols are, but also how frustrating they can be for fans and players. Imagine being on the verge of victory, only to be forced to wait two hours to finish the game!
More bizarre moments in sports
While this match was a spectacle due to its length and interruption, other interesting things are happening in the sports world. For example, Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic lost an exhibition match to Russian Karen Khachanov, and MMA fighter Ilija Topuria knocked out Brazilian Charles Oliveira in the first round. But nothing compares to this football marathon!
Conclusion
If you thought football was boring or predictable, this match will prove you wrong. Five hours of football, a thunderstorm delay, extra time, and drama until the very end – all in one game. Is this the future of football or just a bizarre incident? You decide!
Now, while you ponder this madness, drop a comment – could you handle watching a match that lasts nearly five hours? Or would you have fallen asleep ages ago?
Either way, football never ceases to surprise!
#football #clubworldcup #thunderstorm #chelsea #benfica
