How Benfica hit Auckland City for six at the Club World Cup after a two-hour weather delay – The New York Times

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Benfica have recorded a vital 6-0 win against Auckland City in their second game at the 2025 Club World Cup.
An Angel Di Maria penalty opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, before the players were forced off the field for an extended period due to adverse weather conditions.
After they returned, Vangelis Pavlidis and Renato Sanches added to the advantage before Leandro Barreiro added a quick-fire brace. Late on, Di Maria won — and scored — another penalty to give Benfica a vital goal difference boost.
They have moved to the top of Group C on four points before Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors meet at Hard Rock Stadium later, also covered live on The Athletic.
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Benfica-Auckland City Club World Cup game endures over two-hour weather delay
No rest for the wicked at this Club World Cup as, after today's action concludes later on, there are four matches to come tomorrow.
It is the turn of Groups E and F to take centre stage again and it all starts in Cincinnati where German giants Borussia Dortmund are looking for their first win of the tournament, against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.
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We are halfway through today's action at the Club World Cup, so there are two more matches on the way.
The first of those is in just over an hour's time as LAFC face Esperance in Nashville.
And then it is, in prospect, one of the games of the tournament so far from Miami. Bayern Munich — who scored 10 in their Group C opener against Auckland City — face Boca Juniors who are backed by some of the most passionate fans in the world.
We will be covering every kick of the action from Hard Rock Stadium, so make to join us again a little later for that one. Click here for our live coverage.
What a match!
An epic run time due to that weather delay, plenty of goals, an Auckland player throwing a tantrum and Benfica boss Bruno Lage having a go at his players.
How do you make sense of all that? By reading The Briefing of course, with analysis on all the big talked points from our writers.
You can read it on the link below.
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Benfica 6 Auckland City 0: Lage’s patience tested as underdogs dig deep
You wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of Bruno Lage judging by this photo… luckily for his players, Benfica were much improved in the second half.
As this game ran well over its schedule, another game started — and finished — before full time here in Orlando.
Chelsea started strongly against Flamengo with Pedro Neto giving them an early lead, but it all unravelled in the second half.
Bruno Henrique and Danilo flipped the game on its head in the space of three minutes before Nicolas Jackson was sent off for a horrible tackle just moments later.
It is another huge scalp taken by a South American team at this tournament, with Flamengo moving top of Group D.
It wasn't always easy and at times their slow progress appeared to rile manager Bruno Lage but Benfica got there in the end with a decent scoreline today.
That will boost their goal difference and puts them top of their group for the time being until Bayern Munich and Boca Juniors get underway.
They were patient and kept plugging away, eventually getting their rewards with their superior quality.
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Keeping the score down was always likely to be the aim for Auckland given their status as part timers at this elite competition.
They can feel proud of their first half performance in particular, and the fact that they improved on their 10-0 hammering in their first group game against Bayern Munich.
The club has been up front in saying that they do not know what success looks like for them at this tournament.
But just being here — and taking home the prize money which could change the club's trajectory — is a great moment for them.
So, FT in Orlando: Benfica 6-0 Auckland City
After the 70th minute, fitness became a serious issue for Auckland and Benfica had far more joy. The scoreline flattered the Portuguese to an extent, because they were sluggish for much of the game and struggled to cut through Auckland in the way that Bayern did.
Not often you get to say this in football, but that was a respectable 6-0 defeat. The Kiwis played well. They had some moments on the break and were competitive for much of the game, in spite of that two-hour rain delay.
Two penalties, no problem for Angel Di Maria. Here he is scoring his second.
And that's full time!
After a resilient first-half performance, a lengthy weather break hampered Auckland City as they were easily unpicked by Benfica in the second half.
A big win for Benfica.
90+7' Benfica 6-0 Auckland City
Easy as you like, Di Maris puts another penalty away.
He goes the same way as his first penalty in the first half and Garrow can't quite get his hand to it.
That makes it six and another bruising defeat for Auckland City.
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90+6' Benfica 5-0 Auckland City
This will surely be the last kick of the game but Benfica have been awarded a penalty for that challenge on Di Maria after VAR review.
The Argentinian has already scored one past Garrow in this match, albeit a few hours ago now.
90+4' Benfica 5-0 Auckland City
The referee is going to the monitors to have a look after Angel Di Maria was brought down in the area by Boxall…
We've gone past added time…
90' Benfica 5-0 Auckland City
The fourth official has put his board up and we have four more minutes to play in this match.
The result is a done deal, it's just a question of whether Benfica can score more to better their goal difference.
86' Benfica 5-0 Auckland City
We've had another couple of changes late in the game as we edge towards full time.
Michael den Heijer has gone off for Auckland and Christan Gray has come on.
Meanwhile, Antonio Silva has gone off for Benfica and Adrian Bajrami is on.
79' Benfica 5-0 Auckland City
Dear oh dear, that's another goal and Auckland City are in bother here.
It's good news for Leandro Barreiro and it's another tap-in off a well-timed pass and run in the box.
Easy as you like and that should make Bruno Lage happier after his earlier anger.
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76' Benfica 4-0 Auckland City
The goals are flowing now for Benfica as Barreiro scores a tap-in at the back post off a cross from Dahl.
Auckland are getting tired and sloppier the longer this one goes on.
72' Benfica 3-0 Auckland City
Off comes start striker Bevan and on comes New Zealand international Ryan De Vries.
71' Benfica 3-0 Auckland City
We have two more changes for Benfica as Aursnes and Prestianni come off with Joao Rego and Tiago Gouveia.

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