Benfica rally late to hold Boca in fiery 2-2 Club World Cup draw

Goals from Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi salvaged a dramatic 2-2 draw for 10-man Benfica against Boca Juniors in a fiery Club World Cup Group C clash in Miami Gardens, Florida on Monday.

Boca started strongly in what felt like a home fixture owing to lot of fans support, with Miguel Merentiel flicking in Lautaro Blanco’s clever low cross in the 21st minute. Just six minutes later, Rodrigo Battaglia doubled the lead, nodding home after Ayrton Costa’s header from a deep corner.



Benfica responded before half-time after a VAR review awarded them a penalty for a foul on Otamendi. Di Maria coolly converted, while Boca’s Ander Herrera was controversially sent off for protesting from the bench.


Boca missed a golden chance to extend their lead through Battaglia again in the 69th minute, and Andrea Belotti's red card for a dangerous high boot left Benfica with ten men.

Yet Boca failed to close the game, and Otamendi powered in a late header from Orkun Kokgu’s corner in the 86th minute. The game ended on a sour note for Boca as Nicolas Figal received a red card for a reckless foul just two minutes before the regulation time.


Despite dominating for large periods, Boca were forced to settle for a point in an intense encounter marked by three red cards and plenty of Argentine flair.