Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca slammed the Club World Cup's weather delays as 'a joke,' as his team battled Benfica through an unexpected two-hour break, eventually winning 4-1 in extra time.

The match, which marked the sixth weather-related disruption of the tournament, saw Chelsea leading 1-0 in the 85th minute before a penalty equalizer by Benfica pushed the game into extra time, where Chelsea sealed their victory with an impressive three goals in just ten minutes. Maresca's frustration sheds light on serious issues surrounding the U.S. as a host for major tournaments, especially considering their venues seem to be more focused on brewing storms than entertaining fans.

As Maresca eloquently pointed out, the weather delays weren’t just an inconvenience; they were 'a joke' and raised questions about the suitability of the United States as a host for the tournament. It's a curious strategy to host a world-class tournament in a place where the weather can change faster than a coach’s mind after a disappointing first half. The irony of soccer matches being interrupted by the very elements that they are meant to transcend doesn’t seem lost on anyone.

Chelsea's match against Benfica exemplified this chaotic scenario perfectly. The game was already underway when the skies opened up for a downpour that would make Noah reconsider his architectural choices. At leg 85, Chelsea was on the cusp of a beautiful victory—albeit for only a temporary moment—when the weather decided it was time for an intermission. "It was difficult to keep players focused; they were exchanging theories on the likelihood of winning a rain dance contest instead of strategizing for the pitch," Maresca noted, contributing humor to a rather wet situation.

When the match finally resumed, it brought with it not just a soggy field but also a sense of impending doom. Benfica, perhaps buoyed by a heavenly or, rather, meteorological intervention, equalized in stoppage time with a penalty courtesy of Ángel Di María. Now, if you were drawn into a dark conspiracy theory, you could theorize that perhaps the weather delay was a delayed plot twist conceived by Benfica—a tactic that seems teeteringly close to witchcraft. But in the grand theater of sportsmanship, survival of the fittest prevailed, and back they went to fight it out in extra time.

As the match hurdled into extra time, Chelsea appeared to regain their composure amidst the madness. Displaying remarkable determination—much like a toddler on sugar as they discover the wonders of the universe—Chelsea scored three goals in a mere ten minutes. That’s right: while others were pondering the laws of meteorology and if they'd need an ark to get back to their cars, Chelsea was busy scoring faster than the opposing team could figure out how to defend against them. Four-one in the end, a result that should dim the memory of the earlier chaos along with the lightning flashes across the stadium.

Despite the jubilant victory, the larger questions about logistics and planning loomed. With just over 25,000 fans in attendance at a nearly 75,000-seat stadium, one could only suspect that a few of those fans opted for a local café, avoiding the theater of nature altogether. Imagine being told that a World Cup match would be played in your neighborhood but needing to check the weather forecast and then decide between a potentially soggy spectator experience or a dry seat at home. On this occasion, the 'World Cup’ might have done better as a series of Instagram Stories.

Moreover, as concerns rise about the suitability of U.S. venues for the upcoming men’s World Cup, the absence of retractable roofs is rearing its ugly head. It seems fans will need to plan accordingly; between packing umbrellas and mentally preparing for spontaneous deluges, attending these matches might become less about soccer and more about weather survival. Who wants to see a classic match unfold when you can watch a delightful dance of regrettable wardrobe choices under mockery of rainclouds instead?

In a twist that may well befit a stand-up comedy routine, Maresca seems to have taken it all in stride, albeit with a sardonic edge. His description of the weather situations has left football enthusiasts scratching their heads; perhaps someone should remind him that while weather can be unpredictable, in the realm of sports, it usually comes with more structure and fewer natural disasters. Plans to remedy the weather hiccups will likely be on the table in future tournament meetings—fingers crossed that they're more than just discussions of rain dances and sodden socks.

In a climate of humorous chaos, the Club World Cup continues to be a testament to both the unpredictability of the game and the peculiarities of hosting it in locales known for their seasonal drama. While Chelsea may be celebrating a victory on the pitch, one thing is for sure: they might want to invest in raincoats for their next outing—or at least pencil in some time for meteorology classes for coaches and players alike.