By Mohamed Islam Bouteraa

CHARLOTTE, NC — Under a blistering Southern sun that turned the pitch into a frying pan, Benfica did the unthinkable: they toppled Bayern Munich’s fortress. 

A 1-0 victory—their first against the German giants in 13 years—sent the Eagles soaring to the top of Group C and etched 20-year-old Andreas Schjelderup’s name into Club World Cup folklore.

The Moment That Shattered History

With temperatures hitting 95°F (35°C), Benfica flew out of the blocks. In the 13th minute, Fredrik Aursnes carved through Bayern’s rotated defense and found Schjelderup—a kid with ice in his veins—sneaking in at the back post. His finish past Manuel Neuer wasn’t just a goal; it was an exorcism. Benfica’s bench erupted, manager Roger Schmidt pumping his fists like a man freeing himself from chains."I saw the space and just ran," Schjelderup gasped post-match, his shirt soaked through. "When it hit the net, I heard 60,000 people go silent. That’s when I knew."

Bayern’s Ghosts in the Heat

Already qualified but stung by pride, Bayern threw on Kane, Kimmich, and Olise at halftime. What followed was a siege—and Anatoliy Trubin’s masterpiece. The Ukrainian keeper:

• Stood tall to deny Sané one-on-one.
• Parried Pavlović’s point-blank rocket.
• Watched Kimmich’s "equalizer" wiped off by Kane’s offside toe.

On the touchline, Thomas Tuchel grimaced, his changes unable to break Benfica’s resolve. Even Neuer, at 38, had kept his team alive earlier with a stunning save on Di María.

Why It Mattered Beyond the Score

• For Benfica: A first-ever win over Bayern in the Club World Cup, ending a 5-match German winning streak. They top the group avoiding Flamengo.
• For Bayern: Rotated but rattled. Kane’s muted frustration said it all—perfectionists hate losing any battle.

Human Aftermath

As Trubin collapsed at full-time, teammates mobbed him. Center back António Silva, 20, wept into his gloves. "We’ve been told for years we couldn’t beat them," he said. "Today, we rewrote history."

Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich shook every Benfica player’s hand, but his jaw was clenched. "This burns," he admitted. "We’ll use it."

What’s Next

• Benfica: March to the knockouts as group winners, likely facing Chelsea. The dragonslayers now hunt bigger prey.
• Bayern: A brutal Round of 16 vs. Flamengo—no room for another off-night.

The Takeaway:

In suffocating heat, against a dynasty, Benfica didn’t just survive—they conquered. Schjelderup’s star was born. Trubin’s gloves became legend. 

And a 13-year curse dissolved in Carolina sweat.Football, at its best, makes believers of us all.