Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 victory over Tunisia’s Esperance on Tuesday, organising a Club World Cup last-16 conflict with Benfica, who edged Bayern Munich 1-0 earlier in scorching warmth.
In different motion, underdogs Auckland City secured a memorable draw in opposition to Boca Juniors, whereas Los Angeles FC bowed out with a goalless stalemate in opposition to Flamengo.
In Charlotte, Andreas Schjelderup netted the lone aim for Benfica of their Group C showdown with Bayern earlier than 33,287 followers, expertly ending a cutback from fellow Norwegian Fredrik Aursnes within the thirteenth minute.
Bayern, who began with stars like Harry Kane and Michael Olise on the bench, struggled to reply below the sweltering North Carolina heatwave.
Kane and Olise entered at halftime, injecting urgency, however regardless of Bayern wanting extra threatening, Leroy Sane was denied by Benfica’s Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin when clear by means of.
A draw would have allowed Bayern to high the part, however a Joshua Kimmich effort that discovered the online was dominated out for offside, and Trubin denied Sane once more whereas Kane mistimed a header late on.
It was Benfica’s first-ever win in 14 aggressive conferences with Bayern, and it meant they completed first and can subsequent play Group D runners-up Chelsea in Charlotte within the final 16 on Saturday.
“I think this was a very fair and important win, historic really,” mentioned Benfica coach Bruno Lage.
“We were as straightforward and assertive as we should be, and I think we were very effective in delivering our strategy today.”
Bayern completed second and can go to Miami on Sunday to tackle Brazilian giants Flamengo, with a possible quarterfinal in opposition to European champions Paris Saint-Germain awaiting.
“You could see that it was really tough conditions, so respect to both teams for that,” mentioned Bayern coach Vincent Kompany.
“Our first half was not good enough for sure; the second half was definitely more the level that we expected and good enough to score one or two or three goals.”
Another climate delay
That outcome meant no matter Boca did in opposition to Auckland City in Nashville wouldn’t be sufficient to qualify, however the Argentine giants have been nonetheless anticipated to do higher than draw 1-1 in opposition to the event minnows from New Zealand.
Auckland had misplaced 10-0 to Bayern and 6-0 to Benfica, however this time they recovered from falling behind within the first half when goalkeeper Nathan Garrow palmed a Lautaro Di Lollo header into his personal web.
Christian Gray equalized with a header within the second half to earn the only representatives from Oceania a outstanding level.
“You can’t say we haven’t learned from the experience of being at the tournament. I’m thrilled for the players and the club; it’s wonderful. It’s something to go home with,” mentioned City coach Paul Posa.
“We’re a tiny club with a huge heart, and that’s evident for all to see.”
Delap off the mark
The sport was the fifth to this point on the event to be suspended resulting from a climate warning, with play stopping for nearly an hour – when the motion restarted, not a drop of rain had fallen at Geodis Park.
Chelsea eased by means of to their assembly with Benfica with a medical 3-0 win over Esperance at Lincoln Financial Field in Group D in Philadelphia.
New signing Liam Delap opened his account for the membership with a deftly taken end in stoppage time on the finish of the primary half, simply moments after Tosin Adarabioyo had headed the Blues in entrance.
Teenage expertise Tyrique George added Chelsea’s third deep into damage time on the finish of the sport with a low shot that crept below Esperance goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said.
Flamengo, who had already assured themselves of high spot within the part after wins over Chelsea and Esperance, wrapped up their first-round marketing campaign with a 1-1 draw in opposition to already-eliminated Los Angeles FC in Orlando.
Los Angeles ahead Denis Bouanga threatened to present the MLS facet an upset win of their last sport of the event after a cool end within the 84th minute, just for Wallace Yan to equalize for Flamengo two minutes later.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, FIFA opened a disciplinary investigation into Pachuca’s Gustavo Cabral after allegations he made a racist remark to Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger.
The incident got here towards the top of Sunday’s sport between the 2 groups, which Real gained 3-1.
Source: www.dailysabah.com