Moisés Caicedo was nonetheless going sturdy. There have been 108 minutes on the clock on the Financial institution of America Stadium – not making an allowance for the prolonged climate delay – when the Chelsea midfielder gained possession in Benfica's half, discovered Cole Palmer and surged ahead.
Palmer superior in direction of a back-pedalling, understaffed defence. He waited for assist earlier than discovering the overlapping Caicedo. Benfica, tiring with 10 males, have been defeated by Caicedo's energy. The 23-year-old shot, Anatoliy Trubin made a large number of his save and the ball squirmed free to Christopher Nkunku to attain the aim that despatched Enzo Maresca's facet into the quarter-finals of the Membership World Cup.
One drawback, although: Caicedo will probably be serving a one-game ban when Chelsea meet Palmeiras in Philadelphia on Friday night time. One momentary lapse of judgment may show pricey. Caicedo needed to be smarter when he questioned a refereeing determination within the second half in opposition to Benfica. He took his protest too far and obtained a reserving for dissent, leaving Maresca with a dilemma.
Caicedo is Chelsea's midfield linchpin – no person mocks his £115m charge now – and his absence is important. The Ecuadorian began each Premier League sport final season, changing into the primary Chelsea participant to take action since César Azpilicueta within the 2018-19 marketing campaign, and his sturdiness just isn't unsure.
Stretch it out and he has not been compelled to overlook a sport since sickness saved him out of a 2-1 defeat to Wolves on Christmas Eve in 2023. Earlier than that, the one different instances when he has not began within the league have been as a late substitute throughout a 4-1 defeat to Newcastle in November 2023 after returning late from worldwide obligation and when unavailable for a goalless draw in opposition to Bournemouth in September 2023.
It has grow to be widespread to see Caicedo run off an harm after coming off worse in a 50-50 problem. He wanted therapy on a blow to his knee in opposition to Benfica however nonetheless performed on. No marvel Maresca has leant so closely on him. The pinnacle coach doesn't like to enter key video games with out the previous Brighton midfielder.
There was no query of Maresca resting Caicedo within the league when he was one yellow card away from a two-match ban throughout final season's run-in. Caicedo was trusted to remain out of bother, although he performs on the sting and isn't shy to go in laborious when the ball is there to be gained.
However indiscipline has value him in america. Chelsea, who've added João Pedro to their squad after signing the ahead from Brighton, should react. Caicedo performs when it issues. Maresca rested him within the Carabao Cup and in straightforward Convention League video games however by no means when the stakes have been excessive. In spite of everything, Caicedo began and scored within the Convention League last victory over Actual Betis. Being given a breather in opposition to Espérance final week is irrelevant provided that Caicedo has began three of 4 video games on the Membership World Cup.
Caicedo's significance is huge. His long-term cowl is Dário Essugo, who has simply joined from Sporting. Essugo is inexperienced and has solely made two substitute appearances for his new facet. It might be an enormous gamble for Maresca to pick out the combative 20-year-old in opposition to Palmeiras.
Maresca is prone to discover different methods to compensate for shedding his finest tackler. It's irritating provided that the Benfica sport was the primary time Caicedo, Roméo Lavia and Enzo Fernández had began collectively in midfield because the opening weekend of final season. The likeliest resolution appears to be shifting Fernández right into a deeper position.
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Nevertheless, there was some concern after the sensible however fragile Lavia was not pictured in coaching earlier this week. There isn't a alternative for Lavia's management and skill to conduct play. Chelsea want him to be prepared for his fourth begin of the match. Essugo is uncooked. Andrey Santos is considered as a No 8 and is studying Maresca's model. Reece James impressed at right-back in opposition to Benfica however struggled in central midfield when Chelsea misplaced to Flamengo in Philadelphia throughout the group stage.
That was a nasty afternoon. Nicolas Jackson was despatched off – the striker has accomplished a two-game ban – and Chelsea failed to deal with Flamengo's aptitude, journey and keenness. Not less than they face Palmeiras figuring out to not underestimate Brazilian opposition.
Palmeiras stay unbeaten and will probably be backed by a big following at Lincoln Monetary Subject. They've tried to calm the hype round Estêvão, the thrilling younger winger who joins Chelsea after the match. Their supervisor, Abel Ferreira, has gained 10 trophies throughout his 5 years within the job, developed younger expertise and turned down profitable affords from golf equipment in Europe and Saudi Arabia due to his want to make Palmeiras world champions for the primary time.
Chelsea must be at their finest. There was discuss of a beneficial path to the ultimate – they prevented a last-16 tie in opposition to Bayern Munich and have been anticipated to face Manchester Metropolis within the final 4, just for Al-Hilal to shock Pep Guardiola's facet – however there isn't any room for complacency in opposition to Palmeiras. It's a repeat of the 2022 last, when Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea collected the ultimate trophy of the Roman Abramovich period by beating Ferreira's punchy Palmeiras facet in additional time, and it'll not be straightforward with out Caicedo.
