Miami Gardens (United States) (AFP) – 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 half-time 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. A video of Boca fans jumping and chanting in a local Walmart supermarket, to the bemusement of regular shoppers, had captured the mood, but it was nothing compared to the atmosphere at Hard Rock Stadium.
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The home of the Miami Dolphins was turned into a Bombonera by the beach, with 90% 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.
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 where the alert Battaglia nodded home from close range.
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. 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.
The tempo slowed after the break, but Boca had a chance to restore their two-goal lead in the 69th minute; however, Battaglia headed wide from a promising position. Benfica found themselves further in trouble when Andrea Belotti, a half-time 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. Group C also features Bayern Munich and Auckland FC.
© 2024 AFP
