Benfica thrashed Auckland City 6-0 in a storm-delayed Club World Cup match in Orlando on Friday, with Angel Di Maria scoring twice from the penalty spot. The match was halted for two hours due to severe weather, with Benfica leading 1-0 at halftime.

Coach Bruno Lage thanked fans for their patience during the five-hour ordeal and praised his team’s performance despite the challenging heat.

Auckland held off Benfica for most of the first half before conceding a penalty in stoppage time. Di Maria converted, and Benfica dominated after the restart. Vangelis Pavlidis, Renato Sanches, and Leandro Barreiro, who scored twice, extended the lead before Di Maria sealed the win with another late penalty—his third goal of the tournament, tying Bayern's Jamal Musiala as top scorer.

Despite their exit, Auckland coach Paul Posa vowed his team will fight hard in their final Group C match against Boca Juniors, calling the opportunity to play elite teams a rare and valuable experience.