MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Ángel Di María and Leandro Barreiro scored two goals apiece as Benfica overwhelmed Auckland City 6-0 on Friday in a FIFA Club World Cup Group C match that was delayed for more than two hours at halftime because of thunder and lightning.
Benfica’s victory, sealed by three second-half goals after the lengthy weather delay, strengthened the Portuguese club’s position in the group and underscored the gap in quality between the European powerhouse and the semi-professional champions from New Zealand. Di María scored twice from the penalty spot, once deep into first-half stoppage time and again in added time at the end of the match, while Barreiro struck twice during a dominant second-half stretch.
“It was not an easy night because of the interruption, but the team stayed focused,” Di María said. “We respected the opponent and kept playing our football until the end.”
The match was played under sweltering conditions before a thunderstorm forced players off the field at halftime, delaying the start of the second half by more than two hours. When play finally resumed, Benfica wasted little time turning a narrow lead into a rout.
Benfica controlled possession and tempo from the opening kickoff, though Auckland City showed brief signs of resistance in the first half by exchanging counterattacks with the Portuguese side. Despite that effort, Auckland City managed just one shot in the opening half while Benfica fired 18, repeatedly testing the defense and goalkeeper Conor Tracey.
The breakthrough finally came in stoppage time before halftime. Di María calmly converted a penalty after a foul in the box, sending Tracey the wrong way to give Benfica a 1-0 lead just before the weather delay.
Any hope Auckland City had of regrouping during the extended break quickly faded once the second half began. In the 53rd minute, Vangelis Pavlidis doubled the lead with a composed finish from inside the penalty area following a swift buildup. Renato Sanches added a third moments later, striking from distance to put the match firmly out of reach.
Barreiro then took over, scoring in the 63rd and 76th minutes as Benfica continued to carve through Auckland City’s defense. His first came on a low finish after a cutback from the right, and his second was a close-range effort that made it 5-0.
Di María completed the scoring in stoppage time, once again converting from the penalty spot to cap a commanding performance and Benfica’s largest margin of victory in the tournament.
“The delay could have changed the rhythm, but we handled it professionally,” Benfica coach Roger Schmidt said. “In the second half we were much sharper and showed our quality.”
Auckland City, making another appearance on the global stage as Oceania’s representative, struggled to cope with Benfica’s pace and precision, particularly after the break. While the New Zealand side fought to stay organized defensively, mistakes and fatigue eventually took their toll.
The result leaves Auckland City facing a difficult path in Group C, while Benfica moved closer to securing advancement to the knockout stage. With experienced players like Di María leading the way and depth throughout the squad, Benfica signaled its intent to contend deep into the Club World Cup as the tournament continues.