Benfica power past tiring Auckland

SL Benfica 6-0 Auckland City FC

SL Benfica goals: Angel Di Maria (45 pen, 90 pen), Vangelis Pavlidis (54), Renato Sanches (63), Leandro Barreiro (76, 79)

SL Benfica got their first win on the board in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ after a long half-time weather delay, as they eventually overwhelmed a tiring Auckland City.

For much of the first half, the Portuguese giants were frustrated by an inspired show from Nathan Garrow. The young Auckland City keeper made a succession of brilliant saves from Benfica's stellar names, with the highlights outstanding stops from Pavlidis and Di Maria.

However, the Kiwis' resistance was finally broken deep into first half injury time when Jerson Lagos tripped Gianluca Prestianni and Di Maria finally beat the keeper with a coolly converted spot kick.

After that thunderstorm-enforced delay, Auckland's Haris Zeb forced a decent save from Benfica keeper Anatoliy Trubin who turned his shot around the post.

But Benfica turned it on after that and Pavlidis netted his 30th goal for Benfica this season with a lovely twist and cool finish in the 54th minute before a deflected Renato Sanches effort killed off any hopes for the New Zealanders. Leandro Barreiro poached a double within three minutes as Auckland tired, before Di Maria netted another penalty in injury time to make it six.

Benfica now face FC Bayern München in Charlotte on Tuesday, needing just a point to be sure of qualification. Auckland City, meanwhile, round off their campaign against Boca Juniors in Nashville.

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Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match

Angel Di Maria (SL Benfica)