Auckland Metropolis has been thumped 6-0 by Benfica in a Membership World Cup sport that was delayed at half-time due to thunder and lightning.

The New Zealanders might need most popular the match be referred to as off reasonably than delayed with the rating at 1-0, as issues bought out of hand within the second half to go away the New Zealanders with a 0-16 aim distinction after a first-up loss to German giants Bayern Munich.

2022 World Cup winner Ángel Di María scored his first aim from the penalty spot deep into added time on the finish of the primary half and his second, the staff’s sixth, was once more from the penalty spot in added time on the finish of the match.

Leandro Barreiro additionally nabbed a double.

Auckland Metropolis exchanged counterattacks with the Portuguese powerhouse within the first half of the Group C match, however was nonetheless outshot 18-1 and issues bought out of hand after the climate delay.

“I am somewhat bit annoyed,” Auckland coach Paul Posa mentioned.

“The primary half was strong. It was simply very disappointing to concede a aim. I feel the blokes are going to be somewhat bit dissatisfied within the scoreline.”

A thunderstorm delayed the beginning of the second half in Orlando for greater than 2 hours and when the match resumed, the targets got here pouring in for Benfica.

Vangelis Pavlidis made it 2-0 within the 53rd minute, Renato Sanches scored a short while later and Barreiro then scored a pair of targets to extend the result in 5-0.

Auckland midfielder Tong Zhou went down with an obvious head damage simply earlier than half-time.

Trainers attended to Zhou on the sector, and Benfica defender Alvaro Carreras complained concerning the delay. He was given a yellow card after a spat with sport officers.

Auckland’s last sport within the group stage will likely be a mid-week conflict towards Argentina’s Boca Juniors in Nashville.

AP