Benfica Thrash Auckland City 6-0 After Lengthy Weather Delay at Club World Cup
Benfica sent a strong message to their Club World Cup rivals with a resounding 6-0 victory over Auckland City in Orlando. The match, part of Group C action, was delayed by over two hours due to severe weather, but the Portuguese side showed no signs of rustiness once play resumed.
The first half saw Auckland City put up a spirited defensive effort, frustrating Benfica’s attackers for much of the opening period. However, just before halftime, Benfica was awarded a penalty. Veteran winger Ángel Di María coolly converted from the spot, giving his team a much-needed breakthrough and a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
After the interval, Benfica’s dominance became clear. Vangelis Pavlidis doubled the lead in the 54th minute with a clinical finish, followed by Renato Sanches who made it 3-0 in the 61st minute. Leandro Barreiro then took center stage, scoring two goals in quick succession (70’ and 78’) to put the result beyond doubt. Di María capped off the performance with his second penalty goal in stoppage time, sealing a memorable 6-0 win.
Auckland City struggled to cope with Benfica’s relentless pressure, managing only a single shot throughout the match. The New Zealand side’s defense, so solid in the opening stages, was eventually overwhelmed by the pace and precision of Benfica’s attack. Benfica’s defenders also performed admirably, shutting down any attempts at a counterattack.
With this emphatic victory, Benfica now sits atop Group C with four points, putting them in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages. The team’s confidence will be sky-high as they prepare for their next challenge, while Auckland City faces an uphill battle to keep their tournament hopes alive.