That match was wild! Chelsea really showed some guts against Benfica. I think the main reason Chelsea pulled it off was because of their mental strength and how they used their advantage after Benfica lost a player in extra time. The crazy part was having the match delayed for like two hours because of the weather. I've played in games that got delayed and trust me, it messes with your head and your energy. But Chelsea looked like they were ready for it – maybe even more than Benfica.

After that stoppage time equalizer from Di Maria’s penalty, I thought Chelsea would choke, but they didn’t. Once Benfica got that red card (I’d be so annoyed if I was a Benfica fan), Chelsea just attacked with so much energy. Nkunku, Neto, and Dewsbury-Hall finishing it off was awesome. Plus, being able to play in Charlotte makes it even crazier – different atmosphere, fans, and everything. Chelsea just seemed to keep their heads in it better; their fitness and squad depth definitely helped.

Pretty sure a lot of teams would have broken down after all those setbacks, but Chelsea just pushed harder. It was one of the better comebacks I’ve seen lately!

1. Game control in regulation Chelsea were dominant for large stretches: they created more chances, put pressure on Benfica’s keeper, and looked likely to win well before the chaos.

For instance: they took the lead through Reece James’ smart free-kick in the 64th minute.

2. Red card & playing with advantage After the long delay, Benfica had a player sent off (Gianluca Prestianni) early in extra-time for a second yellow card, which shifted the momentum clearly in Chelsea’s favour.

With 10 men, Benfica’s capacity to resist Chelsea’s attacks was diminished.

3. Late goals when Benfica were vulnerable In extra time Chelsea scored three goals (via Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall) when Benfica were adjusting to being down a man and perhaps fatigued.

4. Mental and physical resilience Despite the two-hour weather delay (lightning/safety protocols) which disrupted the flow, Chelsea regrouped and handled the extra time well. Their ability to stay mentally coherent under such odd conditions gave them an edge.