Moisés Caicedo was relentless even in the later stages. With 108 minutes played at the Bank of America Stadium—excluding the lengthy weather delay—the Chelsea midfielder regained possession in Benfica’s half, passed to Cole Palmer, and surged forward.
Palmer moved toward a retreating, undermanned defense, waiting before laying the ball off to the overlapping Caicedo. Struggling with fatigue and a numerical disadvantage, Benfica could not contain Caicedo’s force. The 23-year-old took a shot, Anatoliy Trubin fumbled the save, and the loose ball fell to Christopher Nkunku, who netted the decisive goal to secure Enzo Maresca’s side a spot in the Club World Cup quarter-finals.
However, a challenge remains: Caicedo will be suspended for Chelsea’s match against Palmeiras in Philadelphia on Friday night. A single misjudgment could prove costly. His reaction to a refereeing decision in the second half against Benfica went too far, earning him a caution for dissent and leaving Maresca with a dilemma.
Caicedo has grown into Chelsea’s midfield anchor—his £115m fee no longer questioned—and his absence will be felt. He played every league match last season, the first Chelsea player to do so since César Azpilicueta in 2018-19, proving his durability.
Aside from an illness-induced absence in a loss to Wolves in December 2023, Caicedo has been ever-present. The only other league games he did not start were due to late returns from international duty in a defeat to Newcastle and an unavailable fixture against Bournemouth earlier that season.
Frequently seen shaking off knocks from tough tackles, he played on after a knee issue against Benfica. Maresca’s reliance on him is justified—the coach rarely omits him in crucial games.
Last season, despite nearing a suspension due to accumulated cautions, Maresca still fielded Caicedo, trusting his discipline despite his aggressive style.
Yet, a momentary lapse has now cost him. Chelsea, who recently added João Pedro to their squad, must adjust. Caicedo is typically reserved for high-stakes games—he was rested in the Carabao Cup and minor Conference League fixtures but started in the final against Real Betis. A recent break against Espérance was insignificant, as he has played in three of four Club World Cup matches.
Caicedo’s role is irreplaceable. His only direct backup, Dário Essugo, newly signed from Sporting, lacks experience.
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