Portuguese giants Benfica secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over a resilient Auckland City FC in a weather-interrupted Group C encounter at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The match, played at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, was decided by a solitary first-half penalty from Argentine star Ángel Di María before a lengthy weather delay at halftime.
The Champions League regulars were heavy favorites against the semi-professional outfit from New Zealand, who were looking to bounce back from a humbling 10-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in their opening fixture. However, Auckland City put up a spirited defensive display, frustrating Benfica for large periods of the first half.
The breakthrough finally came for the Lisbon-based club just before the interval. A foul in the penalty area gave Di María the opportunity to step up, and the veteran winger made no mistake from the spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to give his side a crucial lead.
Any momentum Benfica hoped to carry into the second half was washed away as severe weather conditions forced a prolonged delay. After an extended break, the teams re-emerged to play out the remainder of the match, but the flow of the game was notably disrupted.
Despite Benfica's dominance in possession throughout the second half, they were unable to add to their tally. Auckland City, to their credit, maintained their defensive discipline and shape, preventing any further damage and ensuring a respectable scoreline against their illustrious opponents.
The result leaves Benfica in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament, while Auckland City will take heart from a much-improved performance.
Speaking before the match, Benfica's coach Bruno Lage had emphasized the importance of respecting their opponents, a sentiment that proved well-founded given Auckland's determined display. Auckland City's interim coach, Paul Posa, who returned to the dugout after missing the first match, will likely be pleased with his team's response to their opening-day loss.
Benfica will now look ahead to their final group stage match, while Auckland City will aim to build on this performance in their next outing.
