In Charlotte, North Carolina, Andreas Schjelderup’s decisive strike in the 13th minute secured Benfica a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich under blistering heat conditions on Tuesday, propelling the Portuguese side to the top position in Group C of the Club World Cup. This defeat saw Bayern Munich slip to second place, resulting in Boca Juniors being knocked out of the tournament.
The match, held in sweltering 97-degree Fahrenheit (36 Celsius) weather, witnessed Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni requiring medical attention in the 25th minute because of heat exhaustion. Consequently, he was substituted in the 55th minute. Schjelderup netted the solitary goal by capitalizing on a cross from Fredrik Aursnes, delivering a precise right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area.
Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich saw his 61st-minute goal nullified as Harry Kane was adjudged offside, obscuring goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin’s view. The encounter noted Bayern’s initial tournament defeat as they grappled to find form ahead of the knockout phase scheduled later in the week. Despite a stronger late-game attack and an overturned goal, Bayern was unable to alter the outcome.
The pivotal moment emerged when Schjelderup’s early strike shifted the momentum. Although Bayern heightened their offensive efforts, they were baffled by Benfica’s disciplined defense and failed to restore parity, even with intensified attempts in the second half.
Notably, Bayern made strategic changes, fielding only four players from the lineup that achieved victory over Boca Juniors earlier on Friday. They also employed all five of their substitutes at the halftime whistle, including the likes of Kane, Kimmich, Konrad Laimer, Michael Olise, and Jonathan Tah.
Reflecting on the match, Thomas Müller of Bayern Munich acknowledged the challenges posed by the opponents, stating, “Opponents play tough … In the end when the goalkeeper is the man of the match, then you did not do everything wrong.” Meanwhile, Nedim Bajrami of Benfica added, “It’s an important victory. We played a great game, especially in the first half. In the second half, it was obviously more difficult but we knew how to suffer.”