Goals from two Argentine internationals denied Boca Juniors victory over Benfica on Monday, as the Buenos Aires side were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw in a stormy Club World Cup Group C clash.
An Angel Di Maria penalty on the stroke of halftime and an 86th-minute header from Nicolas Otamendi earned the 10-man Lisbon side a point from a fiercely contested encounter in what was a de facto home game for Boca.
The Argentine club had led 2-0 thanks to goals from Miguel Merentiel and Rodrigo Battaglia and looked set for a night of celebration after Benfica went down to 10 men in the 72nd minute.
Boca fans had taken over Miami Beach over the weekend, thousands of them gathering on the seafront for a traditional 'banderazo', singing, drinking and waving flags for hours in the searing heat.
The Hard Rock Stadium was turned into a Bombonera by the beach, with 90 per cent of the 55 574 crowd decked out in blue and yellow and bringing a level of constant noise rarely, if ever, heard for NFL games here.
When the action got underway it was clear that the enthusiasm from the stands was going to be matched on the field with Boca confirming the feeling that South American clubs in this tournament are out to prove a point against European opponents.
Boca's midfield buzzed around, they attacked at pace and tackled with aggression and the first huge roar came when Benfica's Argentine World Cup winner Di Maria received a rough challenge from behind.
EQUALISER DRAMA
But the physicality was laced with skill too and clever work from Lautaro Blanco down the left created the opening goal in the 21st minute.
Blanco cut in from the left flank, nutmegging Benfica defender Florentino and zipping a low ball in which was expertly flicked home by Merentiel.
The goal lifted the volume even higher and Benfica were struggling to cope – six minutes later they fell 2-0 behind when from a deep Kevin Zenon corner, Ayrton Costa headed towards the back post were the alert Battaglia nodded home from close range.
What a start for Boca at the #FIFACWC! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/cK4wHFtYE7
— Fifa Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 16, 2025
Two-time European champions Benfica desperately needed to get a foothold in the game and they were gifted one when Boca's Carlos Palacios mistimed a challenge on Otamendi and after a VAR review - which included a red card for protesting from the already substituted Boca midfield Ander Herrera - a penalty was awarded.
The 37-year-old Di Maria showed all his experience to send Agustín Marchesín the wrong way as he gently slotted home to reduce the deficit.
Sr. Miguel Ángel Merentiel, MVP del partido 🫡@Fifa Club WorldCup | June 14 - July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/10srEQX3mP | #FIFACWC #TakeltToTheWorld pic.twitter.com/W9ktYBbHeV
— Boca Juniors (@BocaJrsOficial) June 17, 2025
Boca had a chance to restore their two-goal lead in the 69th minute but Battaglia headed wide from a promising position.
Benfica found themselves further in trouble when Andrea Belotti, a halftime sub, was sent off in the 71st minute after a wild, high-footed kick into the head of Ayrton Costa.
But then with six minutes remaining Boca's defence failed to pick up Otamendi at a corner kick and the Argentine veteran met Orkun Kokcu's cross with a thundering header to level the game.
A disappointing result for Boca was compounded by a late red card for Nicolas Figal, who was dismissed for an ugly challenge on Florentino.
"We're left with a bitter taste because we thought we could have won it," said Boca defender Rodrigo Battaglia.
"We gave our all, we competed, we ran... we played the way we needed to, but we're left with a bitter taste because we didn't know how to take advantage of having an extra man, and they scored from a set piece," he added.
Di Maria also felt Benfica could have taken all three points from the game.
"We tried to win it. We know what Argentinian football is. We knew how we had to play, but in the first half we didn't play that way. We needed a bit more. In the second half we played much better. We tried to win the game at the end, but we couldn't quite do it," said the winger.
Group C also features Bayern Munich and Auckland FC.
