Benfica clawed back from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw with Boca Juniors in a tense and emotionally charged Club World Cup showdown on Monday night.
The match, held at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, was marked by drama, controversy, and a flurry of cards, including three reds, four yellows, and a staggering 22 fouls.
The Argentine giants looked right at home, bolstered by a dominant crowd presence among the 55,574 spectators, many of whom passionately backed Boca.
They stormed into the lead with a pair of first-half goals, Miguel Merentiel found the net in the 21st minute, followed by Rodrigo Battaglia’s strike in the 27th.
But Benfica halved the deficit in first-half stoppage time after Ángel Di María converted from the spot. The penalty was awarded following a VAR review, which spotted Carlos Palacios’ knee to Nicolás Otamendi’s back.
The call sparked protests from Boca players, resulting in Ander Herrera receiving a red card, even after he had already been taken off due to injury.
Tensions remained high throughout. Benfica’s Andrea Belotti was shown a straight red in the 72nd minute for a reckless high boot that caught Ayrton Costa.
Boca’s Nicolás Figal also saw red late in the 88th minute after a hard challenge on Florentino.
Despite the rough play and multiple dismissals, Otamendi emerged as the hero for Benfica. His glancing header at the near post in the 84th minute salvaged a point for the Portuguese side, leveling the contest at 2-2.
Security was tight, with heavily armed police patrolling checkpoints to manage Boca’s notoriously fervent supporter group. Fortunately, the heated confrontations were confined to the pitch.
Key Moment
Otamendi’s well-timed header at the front post turned the tide, securing a vital draw for Benfica in a chaotic affair.
Match Takeaways
Boca Juniors, still rebuilding after a disappointing domestic campaign and a poor Copa Libertadores run, drew energy from their vocal fan base and showed glimpses of their old fight.
Their next challenge is against European powerhouse Bayern Munich on Friday night in Miami—a stern test of their mettle.
Benfica, meanwhile, struggled with unforced errors and inconsistent passing, but they’ll look to regroup ahead of their Friday fixture against Auckland City.
The New Zealand club, the tournament’s lone semi-pro representative, were soundly beaten by Bayern in their opener.
What They Said
“This was a game where there’s two really big teams and they’re gonna leave it all out there on every ball.” — Alan Velasco, Boca Juniors midfielder
“It will be a new experience (playing against Auckland City FC), of course we saw the result against Bayern and we will have to do the same.” — Samuel Dahl, Benfica defender
