"I Asked Them"—Reece James Reveals the Genius Behind His Stunning Free-Kick Goal Against Benfica
Chelsea captain explains the moment of communication and confidence behind his stunning strike as Blues march into Club World Cup quarter-finals
Reece James has opened up on the clever thinking and quick decision-making that led to his stunning free-kick goal against Benfica in Chelsea’s 4-1 Club World Cup win on Tuesday night.
After a nearly two-hour rain delay and a late equalizer from Benfica, the Blues advanced to the tournament’s quarterfinals, where they will play Brazilian club Palmeiras, in a dramatic and wild contest in Charlotte.
James broke the deadlock with a well-taken free-kick in the first half, catching Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin off guard with his clever technique and vision. Speaking after the game, the Chelsea Captain revealed he had a brief but decisive chat with his teammates just moments before the set-piece.
“As I was walking over, I was speaking to the centre-backs and asked them what they wanted,” James told Chelsea’s official website. “They said: shot, cross or in-swinger. I said no problem. When I got to the ball and saw the goalkeeper’s position, he showed me too much of the goal. So I just decided to shoot, and it went in.”
The goal came at a crucial time, with Chelsea having dominated the first half but struggling to convert their chances. Trubin had made several good saves before James finally found a way through with his calm and calculated strike.
The match was suspended in the second half due to thunderstorms in the area — one of several weather-related delays in the tournament so far. When play resumed, Benfica equalised through a controversial penalty in stoppage time, but Chelsea powered through extra time with goals from Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to seal the win.
Despite the victory, there was a setback for Enzo Maresca’s side. Moises Caicedo, who was named man of the match for his dominant midfield display, picked up a yellow card and will be suspended for the quarter-final clash against Palmeiras.
Chelsea now face the challenge of quickly recovering and adjusting ahead of their next game, which will also be another physical test under high temperatures and pressure. With Caicedo out, Maresca may turn to Dario Essugo in midfield, or potentially shift James into the centre and use either Malo Gusto or Josh Acheampong at right back.
