Benfica Claims Dramatic Draw Against Boca Juniors While Esperance Falls to Flamengo in Club World Cup
Benfica of Portugal secured a thrilling 2-2 draw against Argentina’s Boca Juniors in their opening match of Group C at the Club World Cup, held early Tuesday morning.
Boca Juniors took the lead in the first half with two quick goals by Miguel Merentiel in the 21st minute and Rodrigo Batalla in the 27th minute. However, Spanish player Ander Herrera received a red card in the 45th minute despite being on the bench. Benfica narrowed the gap before halftime with a penalty converted by Argentine Ángel Di María, who acknowledged the Argentine fans present in the stands of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
In the second half, Benfica faced another red card following a harsh tackle from Andrea Belotti in the 72nd minute. Nevertheless, the Portuguese side managed to equalize with a powerful header from defender Nicolás Otamendi in the 84th minute. In the final minutes, Nicolás Figal of Boca Juniors was sent off in the 88th minute.
In the same group, Bayern Munich tops the standings with three points after a commanding victory over Auckland City, while Benfica and Boca Juniors each have one point. Auckland sits at the bottom of the table with no points.
In Group D, Tunisian side Esperance suffered a heavy defeat against Brazilian Flamengo, losing 2-0 in a match held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The Brazilian team’s goals were scored by Giorgian de Arrascaeta in the 17th minute and Luiz Araújo in the 70th minute.
As a result, Flamengo and Chelsea lead Group D, both with three points, while Los Angeles FC and Esperance occupy the third and fourth positions respectively, without any points.
