Benfica beat Bayern to seal top spot in Club World Cup Group C
Benfica's Andreas Schjelderup (L) celebrates his side's first goal of the game during the FIFA Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Bayern Munich at Hard Rock Stadium. Sven Hoppe/dpa
Benfica outshone already qualified Bayern Munich 1-0 in the blazing US sun on Tuesday to snatch top spot in Group C at the Club World Cup.
Andreas Schjelderup swept home on 13 minutes after passive Bayern defending on the artificial turf and the Portuguese side clung on in the second half.
Advertisement
"Big win. Through from the group. We can't wait," the goalscorer said.
Benfica next return to Charlotte on Saturday to meet the second-placed side from Group D - currently Chelsea, who play Espérance de Tunis later.
The Germans needed just a point to secure first place, but instead finished second and must now face Brazil's Flamengo in the last 16 on Sunday in Miami Gardens.
"We didn't have the intensity in the first half that we had in the second half. That's out fault. We missed chances too," Bayern captain Manuel Neuer told DAZN.
"We don't want to blame the heat and use excuses. It is the same for everyone. But of course it is not easy."
Advertisement
Benfica's first ever win over Bayern meant Boca Juniors were knocked out, irrespective of the result of their game against tournament whipping boys Auckland City. The match in Nashville was the latest at the tournament to be delayed mid-match due to thunderstorms.
The Argentinians crashed out unlike several other South American sides who have so far prospered at the expanded event.
Over in Charlotte, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany rotated his squad given they were already through, resting Harry Kane and Joshua Kimmich. He handed a first club start to Tom Bischof and possibly a last club start to Leroy Sané before his July 1 move to Galatasaray.
Bayern, with Jamal Musiala on the bench after his latest injury scare, had battered Auckland a record 10-0 in their opener and edged Boca 2-1.
Advertisement
The stands were half full in a sweltering Charlotte against Benfica but there was an early roar when Neuer tipped Angel di Maria's effort wide.
Kompany happy to leave Charlotte
The Portuguese looked brighter and Neuer had no luck when Schjelderup slightly mishit a shot into the near corner.
Benfica continued to push, with ex-Bayern midfielder Renato Sanchez in the engine room, but the strength-sapping conditions meant the rest of the first half petered out until Bayern had two half chances.
Some players visibly struggled in the heat despite the water breaks as the controversy over early US kick-off times for European audiences showed no signs of abating.
Advertisement
Kane, Kimmich and Michael Olise were introduced at half-time by the Bundesliga champions in a bid to get back into the contest.
Sané and Thomas Müller, leaving Bayern after the tournament and possibly moving to the United States, missed good opportunities after the break.
Bayern were suddenly in the ascendancy but Kimmich's strike was ruled out because Kane was offside in front of the goalkeeper.
Another late miss by Sané summed up his Bayern career and their mood.
"I think our first half wasn't good at all," Kompany said, mentioning the heat and the artificial pitch. "I feared this wouldn't go as fluid as normally.
Advertisement
"But we created so much in the second half. In the second half we played really well. If you don't take your chances, eventually you pay the price."
Looking ahead to Flamengo in Florida, he added: "It is going to be a tough game. Maybe a positive is we don't need to play in Charlotte anymore."
Benfica's Andreas Schjelderup (R) celebrates his side's first goal of the game during the FIFA Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Bayern Munich at Hard Rock Stadium. Sven Hoppe/dpa
Benfica's Andreas Schjelderup (2nd R) celebrates his side's first goal of the game during the FIFA Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Bayern Munich at Hard Rock Stadium. Sven Hoppe/dpa
Bayern Munich's Josip Stanisic (L) and Benfica goalkeeper Samuel Soares battle for the ball during the FIFA Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Bayern Munich at Hard Rock Stadium. Sven Hoppe/dpa
Benfica's Angel Di Maria lies on the pitch during the FIFA Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Bayern Munich at Hard Rock Stadium. Sven Hoppe/dpa
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
29 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Chelsea coach Maresca says US 'is not the right place' for Club World Cup after lightning delay
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca criticized FIFA for holding the Club World Cup in the United States after his club's match against Benfica on Saturday was delayed for two hours due to lightning and took nearly five hours to complete. Fans were told to vacate the seating bowl of Bank of America Stadium with four minutes left in regulation, although it never rained at the venue. Chelsea went on to beat Benfica 4-1 in extra time.
USA Today
35 minutes ago
- USA Today
Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code SBWIREDYW: Score 10 100% Profit Boosts for UFC 317, More
What's better than a UFC event with one title fight? Tonight's UFC 317 card with two title fights. If you're planning to enjoy the action from Las Vegas and thinking about placing a wager or two, then take advantage of the Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBWIREDYW that gives you 10 100% profit-boost tokens just for playing a $1 first bet. Yes, this is as easy as it sounds. Create an account and make a $1 first bet on any sport you want. As soon as that bet gets settles — win or lose — Caesars Sportsbook drops 10 profit-boost tokens into your account and gives you 14 days to play them. Each time you attach a token to a bet and it wins, you double your profit! You won't find any other sportsbook promos that ask you for so little, yet have the ability to pay out so much. FYI: Tokens can only be added to bets of $25 or less that carry odds of -10000 or longer. Here's the scoop on tonight's UFC 317 main card: The first title fight is a flyweight showdown between Alexandre Pantoja (29-5) and Kai Kara-France (25-11). Pantoja has owned the flyweight belt since July 8, 2023, but this is his first bout since submitting Kai Asakura in UFC 310 on Dec. 7. Then comes the lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria (16-0) and Charles Oliveira (35-10). Islam Makhachev had been the lightweight champ since beating Oliveira in October 2022, but the world's toughest pound-for-pound fighter has vacated the title to pursue welterweight glory. Can Oliveira hand Topuria his first loss? Download the Caesars Sportsbook app — one of the industry's most comprehensive sports betting apps — to see the latest odds on all of tonight's fights. Because you get 10 100% profit-boost tokens when you sign up for an account with the Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBWIREDYW, you could have enough tokens to play on each UFC 317 fight. It only takes two minutes to get your tokens. Simply click a BET NOW button and answer a few basic questions. Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code SBWIREDYW: 10 100% Profit Boosts Guaranteed for Soccer & More It's time for the best part of the FIFA Club World Cup and CONCACAF Gold Cup: The knockout rounds. FIFA hosts four Round of 16 matches this weekend while the Gold Cup delivers its four quarterfinals. In today's FIFA play, Palmeiras faces Botafogo in Philly while Benfica and Chelsea meet in Charlotte. The Gold Cup features a doubleheader in Glendale, Arizona: Panama vs. Honduras and Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia. The Caesars Sportsbook soccer tab has all the latest odds for you. Today's packed Major League Baseball schedule features a few pitchers who have quietly been amazing lately. The San Diego Padres face the Cincinnati Reds and lefty Andrew Abbott, who has gone 2-0 with an 0.83 ERA in his last three starts. And while the Chicago White Sox aren't good and won't be favored today against the San Francisco Giants, Sox starter Adrian Houser has been terrific since joining the team last month. He owns a 2-2 record and 2.27 ERA in six starts. To fill your virtual pockets with profit-boost tokens, hit the closest BET NOW button and type in the Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBWIREDYW when asked to do so. Once you have your $1 first bet settled, 10 100% profit-boost tokens will be all yours. How to Claim The Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code Bonus Offer It takes just a few moments to secure your Caesars Sportsbook promo code offer: The Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBWIREDYW code entitles you to 10 100% profit-boost tokens just for placing that $1 first bet. You'll have 14 days to use your tokens. Attach a token to any bet that you'd like to double your profit on. Just keep in mind you can't use a token on a bet bigger than $25 or odds more conservative than -10000. The maximum added profit per boost is $2,500. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. But the Caesars Sportsbook promo code features a 1X playthrough policy, so any bonus bet needs to win just once for you to collect the profit in cash.
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chelsea coach Maresca says US 'is not the right place' for Club World Cup after lightning delay
Players warm up after a weather delay in the Club World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Benfica and Chelsea in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, June 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca criticized FIFA for holding the Club World Cup in the United States after his club's match against Benfica on Saturday was delayed for two hours due to lightning and took nearly five hours to complete. Fans were told to vacate the seating bowl of Bank of America Stadium with four minutes left in regulation, although it never rained at the venue. Chelsea went on to beat Benfica 4-1 in extra time. Advertisement If 'they are already suspending six, seven eight games, probably there is something that is not working well,' Maresca said, adding that the United States 'is not the right place to do this competition.' Extreme heat has been an issue throughout the tournament, with temperatures approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) at some venues during daytime matches scheduled to accommodate European television audiences. Several matches have been delayed by rain. After the lengthy delay on Saturday, Benfica made a late push and scored the equalizer on a stoppage-time penalty. Chelsea captain Reece James said players 'had to sit and wait for a long period, and it's quite disruptive.' Advertisement With the expanded Club World Cup serving as a dry run for next year's 48-team World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, FIFA has been criticized over pitch conditions and match scheduling as well as its handling of the weather. ___ AP soccer:
