LISBON, June 21, 2025
BENFICA THRASH AUCKLAND CITY 6-0 IN MATCH MARKED BY THUNDERSTORM
LISBON, June 21, 2025
SL Benfica delivered a historic 6-0 thrashing to Auckland City on Friday night in a friendly match held at Wellington Municipal Stadium. The game will also be remembered for a severe thunderstorm that caused a two-hour delay to the start of the second half.
Total Dominance and Di María's Opening Goal In the first half, Benfica took control of the game from the opening whistle, tallying 18 shots on the opponent's goal before halftime. Despite the intense offensive volume, semi-professional goalkeeper Nathan Garrow made spectacular saves, keeping the score unchanged until the 48th minute, when Ángel Di María converted a penalty kick following a foul on Rafa Silva. Shortly after, the storm hit the stadium, with lightning and warnings forcing a two-hour suspension of play as fans took shelter.
Offensive Explosion in the Second Half With the bad weather behind them, Benfica returned with even more energy and dismantled the New Zealand resistance:
- 53’: Evangelos Pavlidis shot into the top corner after a pass from Enzo Fernández.
- 63’: Renato Sanches capitalized on a rebound in the box to extend the lead to two goals.
- 76’ and 78’: Leandro Barreiro scored his brace with precise shots from outside the area.
- 90+8’: Di María netted another penalty, sealing the 6-0 scoreline.
Despite its friendly nature, the victory highlighted Benfica's collective cohesion and the synergy among its starters, providing valuable playing minutes before the start of the League. IN MATCH MARKED BY THUNDERSTORM
SL Benfica delivered a historic 6-0 thrashing to Auckland City on Friday night in a friendly match held at Wellington Municipal Stadium. The game will also be remembered for a severe thunderstorm that caused a two-hour delay to the start of the second half.
Total Dominance and Di María's Opening Goal In the first half, Benfica took control of the game from the opening whistle, tallying 18 shots on the opponent's goal before halftime. Despite the intense offensive volume, semi-professional goalkeeper Nathan Garrow made spectacular saves, keeping the score unchanged until the 48th minute, when Ángel Di María converted a penalty kick following a foul on Rafa Silva. Shortly after, the storm hit the stadium, with lightning and warnings forcing a two-hour suspension of play as fans took shelter.
Offensive Explosion in the Second Half With the bad weather behind them, Benfica returned with even more energy and dismantled the New Zealand resistance:
- 53’: Evangelos Pavlidis shot into the top corner after a pass from Enzo Fernández.
- 63’: Renato Sanches capitalized on a rebound in the box to extend the lead to two goals.
- 76’ and 78’: Leandro Barreiro scored his brace with precise shots from outside the area.
- 90+8’: Di María netted another penalty, sealing the 6-0 scoreline.
Despite its friendly nature, the victory highlighted Benfica's collective cohesion and the synergy among its starters, providing valuable playing minutes before the start of the League.