Benfica’s Dramatic Comeback Stuns Boca in Club World Cup 2025
In a match that perfectly encapsulated the passion, drama, and chaos of intercontinental club football, Portuguese giants Benfica staged a remarkable second-half comeback to salvage a 2-2 draw against Boca Juniors in a fiery FIFA Club World Cup 2025 clash. The game, played in front of a raucous, pro-Boca crowd at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, was a modern classic that had everything: spectacular goals, VAR controversy, and three red cards.
For much of the contest, it seemed as though the raw passion of the Argentine side would overwhelm their European opponents, as Boca stormed to an early 2-0 lead. However, a resilient and determined Benfica side fought their way back into the match, with their own Argentine superstars providing the decisive moments to break Boca hearts. The result leaves the highly competitive Group C fascinatingly poised and serves as a powerful showcase for the drama of the new tournament format.
The Blue and Gold Wave: How Boca Seized Control
The atmosphere inside Hard Rock Stadium felt less like Miami and more like a little slice of Buenos Aires. The passionate, chanting, and bouncing supporters of Boca Juniors created an incredible home-like environment, and their team responded in kind. While Benfica controlled the opening twenty minutes of possession, it was Boca who played with a greater sense of urgency and aggression. They flew into tackles, pressed with intensity, and successfully disrupted Benfica’s rhythm. Against the run of play, they landed the first blow in the 21st minute. A brilliant piece of individual skill from left-back Lautaro Blanco, who nutmegged his defender before delivering a perfect low cross, was deftly flicked home by striker Miguel Merentiel, sending the stadium into a frenzy.
Just six minutes later, with the crowd still in full voice, Boca doubled their advantage. From a well-worked corner kick, a header back across the goal from Ayrton Costa found midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia, who out-jumped his marker to power a header past the Benfica goalkeeper. This early 2-0 lead was a testament to Boca’s intensity and their ability to capitalize on key moments. They were playing with the fire and passion that their fans demanded, and it appeared as though they were on their way to a famous victory against one of Europe’s most storied clubs.
The Argentine Twist: Benfica’s Superstars Strike Back
Just as it looked like Boca Juniors would take their commanding lead into the halftime break, the game took its first dramatic turn. In first-half stoppage time, a clumsy challenge in the box on Benfica’s World Cup-winning defender, Nicolás Otamendi, resulted in a VAR-awarded penalty kick. The man who stepped up to take it was none other than his fellow Argentine international, Ángel Di María. In what is set to be his final tournament with the club, the veteran winger coolly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, halving the deficit and providing a crucial lifeline for his team just before the interval.
The second half saw Benfica push for an equalizer, but their hopes appeared to be dashed in the 72nd minute when substitute striker Andrea Belotti was shown a straight red card for a reckless high kick. Down to ten men, it seemed as though Boca would be able to see out the victory. However, in the 84th minute, another Argentine international came to Benfica’s rescue. From a corner kick, the inspirational captain Nicolás Otamendi rose highest, sneaking in unmarked to power a header into the back of the net, completing the dramatic comeback. It was a moment of incredible resilience from the ten-man Benfica side and a devastating blow to the Boca players and their thousands of supporters.
Starting Lineups and a Fiery Encounter
The official lineups for the match featured a host of international talent and set the stage for a physical, high-stakes encounter.
Boca Juniors (4-4-2): Agustín Marchesín (GK); Luis Advíncula, Nicolás Figal, Ayrton Costa, Lautaro Blanco; Carlos Palacios, Ander Herrera, Rodrigo Battaglia, Kevin Zenón; Alan Velasco, Miguel Merentiel (C).
Head Coach: Miguel Ángel Russo
SL Benfica (4-3-3): Anatoliy Trubin (GK); Samuel Dahl, António Silva, Nicolás Otamendi (C), Álvaro Carreras; Renato Sanches, Florentino Luís, Fredrik Aursnes; Ángel Di María, Vangelis Pavlidis, Bruma.
Head Coach: Bruno Lage
The match was a heated and often contentious affair, with the referee issuing a total of three red cards. Alongside Belotti’s dismissal for Benfica, Boca’s Nicolás Figal received a straight red card late in the game for a dangerous tackle, while Ander Herrera, who had already been substituted due to injury, was shown a red card on the bench for protesting the penalty decision.
A Point Dropped or a Point Gained? The State of Group C
The final whistle brought with it a complex mix of emotions for both teams. For Boca Juniors, the 2-2 draw will undoubtedly feel like a massive defeat. “We’re left with a bitter taste because we thought we could have won it,” said defender Rodrigo Battaglia after the match. Having held a 2-0 lead and then playing against ten men for a significant period, their failure to secure all three points is a huge missed opportunity. They will rue their inability to manage the game and see out the victory, a failing that could prove costly in such a difficult group.
For Benfica, the result is a testament to their resilience and championship character. To fight back from a two-goal deficit and secure a point while playing with ten men is a remarkable achievement. However, they too will know that their performance for large stretches of the game was below their usual high standards. “We know what Argentinian football is. We knew how we had to play, but in the first half we didn’t play that way,” admitted Ángel Di María. With German giants Bayern Munich having already secured a dominant 10-0 victory in the group’s other opening match, this draw leaves both Boca and Benfica with significant work to do if they hope to advance to the knockout stages.
