In a passionate Group C confrontation at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, Benfica rebounded from two goals behind to get a spectacular 2-2 tie against Boca Juniors.
Four goals, two red cards, and lots of stress characterized the game as both teams left with a point—and much to consider.
What triggered Boca’s early lead?
The Argentine football club began strong and dominated early in the first half.
Sharp close-range finish in the 21st minute set Miguel Merentiel scoring.
READ MORE: Chelsea announce interest in Lyon’s Fofana
Rodrigo Battaglia increased it to 2-0 six minutes afterward. Rising at the back post, he headed home and doubled the lead of the Argentine team. Boca had all the momentum in her favour.
How did Benfica respond?
Without a fight, Benfica declined to fall down. With a composed penalty in first-half stoppage time, Angel di Maria resurrected the Portuguese team back into the game. The spotkick came following a foul on Nicolas Otamendi near a corner.
The match became clash of the titans when Andrea Belotti was issued a yellow card that VAR afterwards changed to red. Moments after, Jorge Figal of Xeneize was given a straight red for a dangerous challenge.
CHECK ALSO: Cherki sends message to Man United after signing for city rivals
The Glorious One kept going even though they were down to ten men. With a towering header from Orkun Kokcu’s corner, Otamendi finished the comeback.
What occurred on the matchday again?
Later that evening, Flamengo confidently defeated Esperance Tunis 2-0 to capture all three points.
With clinical finishes, Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Luiz Araujo scored for the Brazilian side and sealed the outcome.
CLICK THIS: Enrique thrilled with PSG’s win over Atletico Madrid
Group C keeps generating great melodrama and intensity. With Benfica and Boca splitting the loot, focus now turns to the following round.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
2 Responses