The match at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte (USA) brought a miracle to Benfica when this was the first time the Portuguese team won against the German "Gray Tigers" in an official match.
Bayern Munich fielded 7 substitutes in the starting lineup
In theory, the match promises to be very exciting as it will both determine the top spot in the group and be the last chance for Benfica to dream of a ticket to the next round in Group C. They face fierce competition from Boca Juniors when both sides still do not have enough points to enter the next round. Bayern Munich, meanwhile, plays the role of a point distributor, full of calculation as they are completely proactive in "choosing" opponents in the next round.
Benfica entered the match with more determination
The match took place in harsh weather conditions when the outside temperature reached nearly 36 degrees Celsius, significantly affecting the players' physical strength and the playing style of the two teams.
However, Benfica were the better adapted team and took the lead early in the 13th minute. From a combination on the right wing, Fredrik Aursnes crossed into the middle for Andreas Schjelderup to shoot a dangerous diagonal shot, defeating goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Andreas Schjelderup celebrates after opening the scoring
Benfica full of hope to continue if they beat Bayern Munich
Conceding a goal, Bayern Munich tried to increase the pressure but were completely deadlocked in the first half. Dominating with 65% of the ball possession time, Bayern Munich did not have many opportunities to finish.
Coach Vincent Kompany fielded seven substitutes in the starting lineup and the Bundesliga champions failed to muster a single shot on target in the first 45 minutes.
Harry Kane also did not help improve Bayern's attack.
In the second half, Bayern was forced to strengthen their squad by bringing in a series of key players such as Harry Kane, Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise and Jonathan Tah. The game then tilted in favor of the German representative.
The Bavarians created several clear-cut chances, including one notable one when Kimmich fired past Benfica, but the goal was disallowed for Kane's offside.
Goalkeeper Trubin discourages Bayern Munich strikers
However, Benfica's defense, under the solid command of goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, stood firm. The 2001-born "goalkeeper" played excellently with many saves in one-on-one situations, especially against the shots of Leroy Sané and Olise.
Up front, although he did not score, 37-year-old veteran Ángel Di María still played well thanks to his experience and tactical vision. The Argentine player controlled the tempo well and repeatedly created opportunities for Benfica's counter-attacks.
Benfica won top spot in Group C
The 1-0 win helped Benfica take the top spot in Group C with 7 points after 3 matches, thereby qualifying for the knockout round and facing the second-placed team in Group D - most likely Chelsea or Espérance Tunis.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich is second in the group with 6 points and will face a very strong opponent, Flamengo - the leader of group D - in the next round.
Coach Kompany's proactive rotation of players in the decisive match has caused him to receive much criticism from the German media.
The country's press said that the former Belgian player underestimated his opponent and "gambled" with the top spot, causing Bayern to fall into a more difficult bracket.
However, it is not impossible that Bayern Munich will decide to "choose" Flamengo as a springboard to continue in the tournament. In that case, coach Kompany's calculations are completely reasonable.
In the match at the same time, Boca Juniors was held to a 1-1 draw by Auckland City and both teams were officially eliminated, returning home early after the group stage.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/benfica-quat-nga-bayern-munich-hoan-thanh-som-chi-tieu-fifa-club-world-cup-196250625062728486.htm
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