For 85 minutes in Charlotte, we were in full control. The Blues fashioned several chances and deservedly went ahead just after the hour mark when skipper Reece James whipped home a free-kick.

Benfica had offered little threat, but with five minutes remaining, the game was halted due to severe thunderstorms in the area. Almost two hours passed before the players returned to the pitch, and in the limited time that remained, the Portuguese giants were able to earn a penalty and force the game into extra time.

The drama continued in that additional 30 minutes, as Gianluca Prestianni was sent off, which helped the Blues re-establish control.

We then struck three quick-fire goals in the second period of extra time through Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to secure our place in the quarter-finals, where we will face Palmeiras.

Maresca was delighted with his players for their endeavour and attitude across five hours at the Bank of America Stadium, but felt the storm break had a significant impact on this side.

He said: ‘I am very happy because we are in the last eight teams of this fantastic competition.

‘As I say, for 85 minutes, we didn’t concede anything and had enough chances to win the game. The team was very good. It was one of our best performances in the last two weeks or the last month.

‘The game was very good for 85 minutes but then we have a two-hour break and it’s not the same game because you break the tempo. Two hours inside. We tried to go out and continue to play in the same way, but it’s difficult.

‘It’s not random that for 85 minutes, we didn’t concede anything, and then in five minutes [after the restart] we conceded chances.

'You see they score because they need to chase. We were inside and winning, we go back outside and the mentality is different. It was really difficult.’