Auckland City's struggles at the FIFA Club World Cup continued as they suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat to Benfica, marking their second consecutive loss in the tournament. This result follows a 10-0 thrashing by Bayern Munich in their opening match, effectively eliminating them from contention for the knockout stages. The match against Benfica, held in Orlando, was disrupted by a significant weather delay, adding to the challenges faced by the New Zealand side.

Despite the scoreline, Auckland City showed some improvement compared to their previous outing. In the first half, they managed to keep Benfica at bay, thanks to a stellar performance from 20-year-old goalkeeper Nathan Garrow, who was making his first start of the tournament. Garrow made a series of impressive saves, denying Benfica's potent attack led by veteran Argentine Ángel Di María. However, Benfica finally broke the deadlock with a penalty converted by Di María in first-half stoppage time, giving the Portuguese side a 1-0 lead going into the break.

The match was then suspended for two hours due to a severe lightning storm in the Orlando area. This lengthy delay seemed to disrupt Auckland City's focus, and Benfica took control in the second half. Evangelos Pavlidis doubled Benfica's lead in the 53rd minute, followed by Renato Sanches ten minutes later. Auckland City, visibly tiring in the humid conditions, struggled to contain Benfica's relentless attacks. Leandro Barreiro added two quick goals in the 76th and 78th minutes, further extending Benfica's advantage. Di María sealed the victory with another penalty in injury time, completing his brace and the 6-0 scoreline.

Auckland City, the only amateur team in the 32-team tournament, demonstrated moments of resilience and determination, particularly in the first half. However, the superior quality and fitness of Benfica ultimately proved too much to handle. Despite the defeat, coach Paul Posa, who returned to the sidelines after missing the first match due to a minor surgical procedure, can take some positives from his team's improved performance.

Striker Myer Bevan had expressed determination before the game, acknowledging Benfica's stars like Di Maria and Nicolás Otamendi but hoping to exploit any tactical gaps. While they couldn't secure a result, the team showed glimpses of attacking intent. Auckland City now faces Argentine powerhouse Boca Juniors in their final group match. Although they are already eliminated, they will be playing for pride and aiming to end their Club World Cup campaign on a positive note. The match against Boca Juniors presents another tough challenge, but it's an opportunity for Auckland City to showcase their capabilities against another top club and gain valuable experience on the world stage.