Identifying the standout and underperforming players from the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 clash, based on fantasy scores.
Chelsea emerged victorious with a 4-1 extra-time win over Benfica in a truly wild match. The game was full of drama, impacted by a weather delay that halted play for two hours just before the 90th minute. James initially put Chelsea ahead, but Di Maria equalized from the penalty spot in stoppage time.
Just moments into extra time, the match`s balance shifted dramatically: Prestianni received a second yellow card and was sent off for Benfica. With a man advantage, the English side took control and sealed the win with goals from Nkunku, Dewsbury-Hall, and Pedro Neto. Chelsea now advances to the quarter-finals to face Brazilian club Palmeiras, while the Portuguese side exits the Club World Cup after a lengthy battle. Here are the top 3 and flop 3 performers from this Fantasy Club World Cup match.
Top 3 Performers
The player who achieved the highest fantasy score was the one who opened the scoring: Reece James. The Chelsea defender earned a fantastic 10.5, combining a 7.5 match rating with the 3 points for his goal. In second place is Christopher Nkunku, who proved decisive in extra time by scoring the goal that restored Chelsea`s lead.
Finishing with 9.5 points were the other three goalscorers: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Pedro Neto for Chelsea, and Angel Di Maria for Benfica. All three received a 6.5 match rating, boosted by 3 points for their respective goals. `El Fideo` bids farewell to the Club World Cup having been a key player, finishing with 4 goals and an impressive fantasy average of 9.8.
Flop 3 Performers
The worst fantasy score of the match went to Benfica`s goalkeeper, Anatolii Trubin. The shot-stopper recorded a fantasy score of just 1.5 after conceding four goals.
Among the players who negatively impacted their team was also Gianluca Prestianni, who finished with a fantasy score of 3 after his red card significantly benefited Chelsea. The third player on the list of worst performers is another Benfica attacker: Vangelis Pavlidis. A yellow card contributed to lowering the Greek player`s already poor 4 match rating, resulting in a fantasy score of 3.5.
