Boca Juniors 2 Benfica 2 – Three red cards, sound and fury in Club World Cup’s best game so far

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Two interventions from Nicolas Otamendi helped ten-man Benfica come from 2-0 down to draw with Boca Juniors in a feisty group C game at the Club World Cup in which each team had a player sent off and Ander Herrera also saw red despite having been substituted.

Boca Junior’s supporters were already creating a raucous atmosphere before the game began and after 27 minutes their team were 2-0 up when Miguel Merentiel flicked in a low cross and Rodrigo Battaglia headed in a second.

Benfica halved the deficit when Otamendi stayed down after being kicked at a corner to earn a VAR review and then a penalty, which Angel Di Maria calmly converted. Boca’s protests were such that Herrera who had already been subbed off injured was then sent off.

Boca slowed the game down in the second half and Benfica lost striker Andrea Belotti to a red card with about 20 minutes to go when he was judged on review to have committed a dangerous foul when his high foot caught Ayrton Costa in the back of the head.

At that point Boca looked well set for victory but Otamendi headed in from a corner to level the game on 84 minutes and then lost Jorge Figal to a red card for a wild challenge.

Both teams now have to play Auckland City and Bayern Munich and should they get the same result against the German giants it will likely come down to which side score more against the New Zealand amateurs.

Here The Athletic’s James Horncastle analyses the key talking points.

Boca bring the noise

No team at the Club World Cup will be as well supported as Boca Juniors. Rivals River have wealthier fans but Seattle and Los Angeles are further away from Buenos Aires than Miami.

Boca brought la Doce, the 12th man, from the Bombonera to the Hard Rock. They were throwing hands, punching yellow and blue balloons and waving a flag allying Boca with Napoli, the clubs of Diego Armando Maradona.

Boca supporters brought the noise and the colour (Photo: Carmen Mandato – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

FIFA president Gianni Infantino came out of his box to watch them, having already praised Boca for bringing “soccer fever” to the USA and specifically to Miami Beach. They brought a real effervescence to a still ersatz competition and comprehensively out-numbered their Benfica counterparts.

The Hard Rock was the noisiest it has been for a Club World Cup game even though the attendance figures did not match those for the opening game between Inter Miami and Al Ahly. Some Boca fans, who got into town early, went to that and helped pad out the crowd.

South America leaves one on Europe

Botofogo became the first South American team to win at the Club World Cup on Sunday. But the Libertadores champions were expected to be too much for Seattle Sounders.

More meaningful for the competition in its first week was Boca’s performance against one of Europe’s representatives, particularly after the much fancied Palmeiras were held to a stalemate by Porto at the MetLife.

True, Boca’s opponents Benfica haven’t enjoyed a great season. They called time on the Roger Schmidt era and brought Bruno Lage back to the club. But he did at least end the campaign on a 10-game unbeaten run.

Merentiel celebrates (Photo: CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Boca, by contrast, have had a rough 2025. They were knocked out of the preliminaries of the Copa Libertadores, lost the Super Clasico and were eliminated relatively early from the play-offs that decided the Apertura championship.

Back at the club for a third spell, Miguel Russo, Boca’s 69-year-old coach, did not look like the future. And yet he rolled back the years. Boca really took the fight to Benfica.

It was old school at times, route one, blood and thunder. But it got them into a 2-0 lead and even though 10-man Benfica came back with goals from their own Argentines, Di Maria and Otamendi, it showed Boca aren’t here to make up the numbers, nor are they to be messed with.

What happened to Herrera?

Andre Herrera’s game appeared to have ended in miserable fashion when he was substituted off injured after only 20 minutes, though it turned out it was to get worse.

With Boca 2-0 up, Benfica and former Manchester City defender Otamendi went down and stayed down in the box after a collision at a corner.

Otamendi stays down (Photo: Hector Vivas – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Initially play carried on but once it was stopped for Otamendi to be checked, referee Cesar Arturo Ramos was sent to the screen by the VAR.

Otamendi is fouled by Palacios (Photo: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Replays showed that Otamendi had been caught by Boca defender Carlos Palacios and a penalty kicked was awarded.

That brought a furious reaction from Boca and Herrera, now on the sidelines, was sent off for his protests and had to he held back as he was shown the red card.

Herrera sees red (Photo: Sandra Montanez/Getty Images)

When order was restored, Di Maria calmly rolled in the kick.

A Club World Cup game that felt proper

There was a derby element to this game. Boca’s Merentiel and Costa immediately let Benfica’s Di Maria know he was in for a hard game. They body-slammed him early on; a show of respect.

Di Maria’s last appearance at the Hard Rock was last summer when he won his second Copa America with Argentina. This place held fond memories for him and Boca could not discourage him. He got Benfica back into the game with the coolest of penalties, providing his opponents with a reminder of what to expect when he returns to Argentina with Rosario Central at the end of his tournament.

Belotti earns his red card (Photo: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

Otamendi, his fellow World Cup winner, and a fan of Boca’s hated rivals River then delivered an unexpected equaliser. Benfica were down to 10 men after substitute Belotti’s red card but they were not down and out. It caused Boca to lose their heads. Figal was expelled and the game finished 2-2, 10 against 10.

It was exactly what you want from a game involving a South American team; a Club World Cup game that felt full Libertadores.

What next for Boca Juniors?

Friday, June 20: Bayern Munich, Club World Cup group stage (Miami), 9pm ET, 2am Saturday UK

What next for Benfica?

Friday, June 20: Auckland City, Club World Cup group stage (Orlando), noon ET, 5pm UK

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(Photo: CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

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