Benfica dominated Auckland City in a 6-0 victory at the Club World Cup in Orlando, a match significantly impacted by a two-hour weather delay due to a storm. The Portuguese side held a slender one-goal lead at halftime when the adverse weather conditions forced a suspension. Benfica coach Bruno Lage acknowledged the unusual circumstances, calling it the longest game of his career and thanking the dedicated fans who endured the five-hour ordeal. He also noted the challenging playing conditions due to the high temperatures. The win propelled Benfica forward in the tournament while confirming the elimination of Auckland City, the sole Oceania Football Confederation representatives.
Auckland City, who suffered a heavy 10-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in their opening Group C match, faced another formidable opponent in Benfica. Despite the eventual lopsided scoreline, the New Zealand team exhibited resilience in the first half, frustrating Benfica’s attempts to break through. Goalkeeper Nathan Garrow proved a crucial obstacle for Benfica, making several vital saves. However, Benfica finally found the breakthrough in first-half stoppage time. Gianluca Prestianni was fouled in the penalty area by Haris Zeb, leading to a penalty kick expertly converted by Angel Di Maria, his second successful penalty of the tournament after scoring one in the 2-2 draw against Boca Juniors.
The halftime whistle coincided with the arrival of a storm, leading to the suspension of the match. This marked the fourth game in four days at the tournament affected by weather disruptions. Upon the resumption of play, Benfica wasted no time in asserting their dominance. Vangelis Pavlidis doubled their lead shortly after the restart, forcefully making his way through the Auckland defense to score. Renato Sanches added a third goal ten minutes later, his deflected effort from outside the box finding the back of the net.
Benfica continued to pile on the pressure, with Leandro Barreiro adding two more goals to his tally. His first came from a well-placed cross by Pavlidis, which he neatly tucked away at the back post. His second was a close-range finish, further solidifying Benfica’s commanding lead. In stoppage time, Angel Di Maria was brought down in the box by Nikko Boxall, earning Benfica another penalty. Di Maria stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick, completing the rout and securing his third goal of the tournament, tying him with Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala for the top scorer position.
The match marked a significant victory for Benfica, showcasing their attacking prowess and resilience despite the challenging circumstances. Their comprehensive performance against Auckland City cemented their position in the tournament, setting the stage for a crucial encounter with Boca Juniors. For Auckland City, the heavy defeat confirmed their elimination from the competition. However, their coach Paul Posa, who returned to the bench after undergoing minor surgery, expressed his team’s determination to give their best in their final match against Boca Juniors.
Posa acknowledged the rarity of such opportunities to play against high-quality opponents and pledged that his team wouldn’t simply lie down and do Boca any favors. He emphasized the importance of the experience for his players, highlighting the infrequency with which they face teams of such caliber. Despite their elimination, Auckland City aimed to utilize their remaining match as a valuable learning experience and a chance to showcase their resilience on a global stage. The match against Boca Juniors would represent a final opportunity for the Oceania representatives to leave their mark on the tournament and gain invaluable experience against top-tier competition.
