Under the scorching sun of North Carolina, Benfica claimed a historic 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich on Tuesday, earning top honors in Group C of the Club World Cup. Andreas Schjelderup’s early goal was enough to secure the Portuguese side their first-ever win against the German giants, setting up a Round of 16 clash against either Chelsea or Esperance de Tunis.

The conditions at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte were unforgiving, with temperatures soaring to 37°C. Despite the heat, the Benfica players showed no signs of wilting, executing a game plan that left Bayern chasing shadows in the opening half.

Schjelderup’s decisive moment came in the 13th minute. A low cross from Fredrik Aursnes found the Norwegian midfielder in space, and his composed first-time finish slipped past Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer into the bottom corner. The goal marked a rare lapse in Bayern’s otherwise resolute defense and ultimately defined the match.

While Schjelderup provided the breakthrough, it was goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin who earned the Man of the Match honors. The Ukrainian shot-stopper pulled off a string of critical saves in the second half to deny Bayern an equalizer. From Leroy Sané’s breakaways to Aleksandar Pavlovic’s close-range strike, Trubin stood tall under relentless pressure.

“It was a good game against an amazing team,” Trubin said post-match. “We gave everything to win. It wasn’t just me; it was the whole team.”

For Bayern, the result was a bitter pill to swallow. Already assured a spot in the knockout rounds, Vincent Kompany’s side rotated heavily, but the lineup struggled to find its rhythm in the first half. Kompany acknowledged the team’s sluggish start, noting, “We didn’t play with the same intensity in the first half as we did in the second. That was our mistake.”

The Bavarians improved significantly after halftime, bringing on key players like Harry Kane and Joshua Kimmich. They thought they had leveled in the 61st minute when Kimmich found the net, only for the goal to be ruled out due to Kane’s offside position.

Despite creating a flurry of chances, Bayern failed to break through. “We were dominant and created more chances,” Kompany lamented. “But in football, if you don’t take your chances, you pay the price.”

With the win, Benfica finished atop Group C and will face Group D’s runners-up in the next round. Meanwhile, Bayern, as Group C runners-up, are set for a heavyweight clash against Flamengo in Miami.

Reflecting on the loss, Bayern captain Thomas Müller remained optimistic: “The second half showed what we’re capable of. If we can play like that for 90 minutes, we’ll be successful.”

For Benfica, the victory was more than just a result—it was a statement. Head coach Bruno Lage praised his side’s belief and execution: “People didn’t think we could beat Bayern. But we showed confidence, and we delivered.”

As the tournament heats up, both teams will need to draw on the lessons from this match to keep their Club World Cup dreams alive.