CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca questioned the selection of the US as host of the Membership World Cup and branded the two-hour climate delay in his workforce’s round-of-16 win over Benfica as “a joke.”
The Blues arrange a quarterfinal tie towards Palmeiras with a 4-1 victory after further time in Charlotte, in a recreation that featured the second-longest stoppage resulting from climate within the competitors.
Chelsea have been main 1-0 via Reece James’ Sixty fourth-minute free kick earlier than Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic stopped the match resulting from lightning within the space with 4 minutes remaining.
After the resumption — by which period most of the 25,929 crowd had left — Benfica have been awarded a stoppage-time penalty for handball by Malo Gusto. Ángel Di María equalised from the spot to power an extra half-hour.
Following Benfica winger’s Gianluca Prestianni’s 92nd-minute crimson card, Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Corridor all struck in further time however Maresca was left seething in regards to the logistical challenges.
Saturday’s recreation was the sixth Membership World Cup match to endure a climate delay.
“We did not concede nothing, we created possibilities sufficient to win the sport,” Maresca instructed reporters.
“After which after the break, the sport modified utterly. I feel for me personally it is not soccer. It is already seven, eight, 9 video games that they suspended. I feel it is a joke to be trustworthy, it is not soccer. It isn’t for us. You can’t be inside [for so long].
“It is utterly one thing new however I wrestle to know. I can perceive that for safety causes, it’s a must to droop the sport. However should you droop seven, eight video games, that implies that most likely just isn’t the suitable place to do that competitors.”
Pushed on whether or not the stoppages have been damaging for the competitors, Maresca continued: “Please, do not misunderstand me. I mentioned it is a improbable competitors. It is a Membership World Cup. It is high. We’re comfortable to be within the final eight. We’re comfortable to win all these sort of issues.
“However one thing occurs, six, seven video games suspended, most likely the one[s] that they determine, they want a motive, as a result of it is not regular to droop a recreation. In a World Cup, what number of video games are suspended? Zero, most likely. In Europe, what number of video games? Zero.
“We’re right here, two weeks, they’re already suspended six, seven video games. There may be some drawback for me personally.
“However I am speaking as a supervisor. As a result of when you’re two hours inside, you attempt to hold them within the recreation, however for 2 hours, they’re talking with the household outdoors for security causes. They’re consuming one thing, they’re taking part in, they’re laughing. How will you hold them two hours inside, centered? It is a joke.
“That is why I mentioned it. Then we’re comfortable. We’re comfortable to be right here. We’re comfortable to be on this competitors. But it surely’s one thing that isn’t regular.”
