Benfica 6–0 Auckland City: Portuguese Giants Cruise to Victory After Storm Delay in Club World Cup

Benfica sent a strong message in the FIFA Club World Cup with a resounding 6–0 win over Auckland City in a Group C encounter on Friday, June 20, 2025, in Orlando. Despite a lengthy weather delay caused by severe thunderstorms, the Portuguese side dominated throughout, putting on a ruthless second-half display to seal the emphatic result.

First Half: Di María Opens the Floodgates

The first half saw Benfica control possession but struggle to break down a compact Auckland City defense. Their persistence paid off in stoppage time when Ángel Di María converted a penalty to give the Portuguese giants a 1–0 lead.

Moments later, lightning in the area forced officials to suspend the match for nearly two hours. Fans were evacuated from the stands as heavy rain and storm conditions swept through the area.

Second Half: Benfica Turn Up the Heat

When play resumed, Benfica wasted no time asserting their dominance. New signing Vangelis Pavlidis netted shortly after the restart, assisted by Andreas Schjelderup.

However, not all the action was on the pitch. Midfielder Orkun Kökçü visibly clashed with manager Bruno Lage after being substituted—a fiery exchange that briefly shifted attention from the action.

Benfica continued to pile on the goals, with Renato Sanches adding his name to the scoresheet. Di María converted a second penalty to make it 4–0, before further strikes from João Neves and Álvaro Fernández Barreiro completed the rout.

Key Takeaways

Di María’s Class: The veteran playmaker was instrumental, scoring twice from the spot and orchestrating attacks throughout.

Squad Depth on Display: Benfica made several changes, yet maintained intensity and creativity across the pitch.

Storm Delay Handled Well: Despite the long delay, the players returned focused, and the match finished without further incident.

Kökçü Outburst: The midfielder’s heated argument with Lage could hint at internal friction, but did not affect the final outcome.

What’s Next

The win sends Benfica to the top of Group C with a commanding goal difference. With one match remaining, the Portuguese side look well-positioned to advance to the knockout stage. Auckland City, meanwhile, face early elimination after a second heavy defeat.

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