Wild Six-Minute Collapse: Chelsea's Self-Inflicted Disaster at the Club World Cup
In a thrilling, chaotic six-minute span, Chelsea succumbs to a destructive spree against Blitz-Red.
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Chelsea FC has suffered a crushing second defeat at the Club World Cup in the USA. Despite a 2-0 victory against Los Angeles FC to kick off the tournament, the English side crumbled under the pressure in a six-minutes spell against CR Flamengo of Brazil, losing 1-3. The Londoners, who were leading, must now dig deep and retrieve their winning spirit in their final group game to avoid elimination.
The runner-up of Group D will square off against Bayern Munich, should the German powerhouse finish second in its group. Chelsea's salvation lies in their upcoming showdown against Boca Juniors early Saturday (3 am CET/DAZN). Meanwhile, if Bayern Munich emerges victorious, the two European giants will lock horns in the next round.
CR Flamengo, under the guidance of former Brazilian national team player Filipe Luís, has amassed six points and is on the brink of securing the group's leadership.
Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson made the headlines for an unfortunate reason. Replacing Liam Delap in the 64th minute, Jackson was promptly shown a red card for a dangerous tackle against Ayrton after just four minutes (68'). This blatant mistake silenced the Chelsea camp and offered the upper hand to Flamengo, who swiftly netted their goals through Bruno Henrique (62') and Danilo (65'). Wallace Yan (83') sealed the deal with the final goal.
Lightning Reds and Thunder Strikes - Benfica Struggles but Emerges Victorious
Meanwhile, Benfica Lisbon scraped through against Auckland City in their required match. Despite the Portuguese side boasting a clear advantage in terms of talent, they faced a tough challenge against the semiprofessional New Zealanders for nearly an hour. Former Bochumer Evangelos Pavlidis missed a golden opportunity in the 24th minute, hitting only the outside post, while Auckland's Nathan Garrow produced a string of stunning saves.
However, the tide turned after a lengthy break and added time, as di María finally found the back of the net from the penalty spot. Pavlidis (53'), Renato Sanches (63'), Leandro Barreiro (76' and 78'), and once more di María on another penalty sealed Benfica's victory.
Earlier, Benfica had drawn 2-2 against Boca Juniors after a 0-2 deficit in their opening match. In their final group game, the Portuguese will clash with FC Bayern in Charlotte, North Carolina, next Tuesday (9 pm/Sat1). The unlucky Auckland, already eliminated after their 0-10 drubbing at the hands of Bayern, will bid farewell to the tournament against Argentine giants Boca in Nashville, Tennessee, at the same time.
Sources 1 2 3 Club World Cup 2025**
- Despite Chelsea's initial victory against Los Angeles FC in the Club World Cup 2025, their premature elimination might be imminent as their self-inflicted disaster against CR Flamengo has left them searching for a winning spirit in their upcoming game against Boca Juniors, a crucial European League match.
- In the European leagues, the Premier League powerhouse Chelsea faces tough competition, as they struggle in the Club World Cup against teams like CR Flamengo, reminding fans that Sports like Football are unpredictable and demands peak performance from every club.
