Portugal’s Benfica secured a memorable and historic 1-0 victory over German champions Bayern Munich on Tuesday, a result that saw them leapfrog their opponents to finish top of Group C at the FIFA Club World Cup. The win, sealed by a first-half strike from Norwegian winger Andreas Schjelderup, was Benfica’s first-ever competitive victory over the German giants.
The match, played in scorching heat in Charlotte, North Carolina, was a tale of two halves. A sluggish and much-changed Bayern side was punished for its complacency in the first half, and despite a star-studded rescue mission after the break, they could not break down a resolute Benfica defense. The result means Benfica now heads into the last 16 to face England’s Chelsea, while Bayern’s second-place finish sets up a much tougher knockout tie against Brazilian champions Flamengo.
A Calculated Gamble Backfires for Bayern
With Bayern Munich having already secured their place in the knockout stage before the match, their coach, Vincent Kompany, decided to take a calculated risk. He made seven changes to the starting lineup that had beaten Boca Juniors in their previous game, resting key players like Harry Kane, Joshua Kimmich, and Michael Olise. Only goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, defenders Josip Stanisic and Raphaël Guerreiro, and winger Serge Gnabry kept their places.
The gamble was intended to keep his stars fresh for the more demanding knockout rounds, but it clearly backfired on the pitch. The rotated team lacked chemistry and urgency, looking disjointed and sloppy in a first half where they failed to register a single shot on target. Benfica, who needed at least a draw to guarantee their own progression, sensed an opportunity and started the match brightly.
The decisive moment came in the 13th minute. Benfica’s Fredrik Aursnes made a driving run down the right flank and cut the ball back from the byline. It found his fellow countryman, Andreas Schjelderup, who met the cross with a crisp, first-time shot that he buried into the bottom corner of the net, past a helpless Manuel Neuer.
Surviving the Heat and a Second-Half Onslaught
The game was played in grueling conditions, with temperatures soaring to 97°F (36°C), forcing multiple water breaks and visibly affecting the tempo of the game. Both teams played at a slower pace to conserve energy, but the heat seemed to take a particular toll, with one Benfica player needing medical attention for heat-related issues.
Seeing his team trailing and at risk of losing top spot in the group, Kompany had seen enough. At halftime, he made a triple substitution, bringing on the cavalry in the form of Harry Kane, Joshua Kimmich, and Michael Olise. The impact was immediate. Bayern suddenly looked far more dangerous and began to lay siege to the Benfica goal.
Kimmich nearly found an equalizer when he had the ball in the net with a low drive from the edge of the box, but the goal was correctly disallowed after a VAR check showed that Harry Kane was standing in an offside position and obstructing the goalkeeper’s line of sight.
Despite the intense pressure, Benfica held firm, thanks in large part to a heroic performance from their Ukrainian goalkeeper, Anatoliy Trubin. He was a wall in the second half, making a series of crucial saves to deny Leroy Sané and Thomas Müller. His performance earned him the Man of the Match award and high praise from his opponents.
After the game, Bayern’s Thomas Müller acknowledged the keeper’s brilliance, saying, “Opponents play tough…. In the end when the goalkeeper is the man of the match, then you did not do everything wrong.”
The Consequences: Tougher Roads Ahead
Benfica successfully weathered the storm, and deep in stoppage time, a golden opportunity for Bayern went begging when Harry Kane mis-timed a close-range header. The final whistle confirmed a famous 1-0 win for Benfica.
The result has significant consequences for both teams’ paths in the tournament.
- Benfica, as Group C winners, will now face the runner-up of Group D, Chelsea, in a tie they will feel more confident about.
- Bayern Munich, by finishing second, has drawn a much more difficult opponent in the last 16. They will have to travel to Miami to face the formidable Brazilian side and Copa Libertadores champions, Flamengo.
Conclusion
For Benfica, it was a night of tactical discipline, clinical finishing, and defensive resilience that earned them a historic and well-deserved victory. For Bayern Munich, it was a lesson in the dangers of complacency. While Vincent Kompany’s decision to rest players may yet pay off in the long run, it has undeniably handed his team a more challenging route as they seek to be crowned world champions. The stage is now set for a series of mouth-watering clashes in the knockout rounds.
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