Boca Juniors, Benfica combine for 3 red cards in heated CWC draw

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Benfica overcame a two-goal deficit, getting Ángel Di María’s penalty kick in first-half stoppage time and Nicolás Otamendi’s 84th-minute goal for a 2-2 draw against Boca Juniors on Monday night in a heated Club World Cup match that included three red cards, four yellows and 22 fouls.

Boca Juniors played in a home-like environment with the Argentine club’s supporters making up most of the 55,574 crowd at Hard Rock Stadium against one of Portugal’s premier teams. Both teams finished a man short and one Boca player was ejected after he was substituted from the match.

Heavily armed police were present at checkpoints to ensure order for a Boca supporters’ group that is extremely fierce and passionate. But, most of the rough action was on the field, not in the stands, as the game included red cards for Boca’s Andrés Herrera in the 44th, Benfica’s Andrea Belotti in the 72nd and Boca’s Nicolás Figal in the 88th.

Boca built its lead on goals by Miguel Merentiel in the 21st minute and Rodrigo Battaglia in the 27th.

Referee César Ramos awarded the penalty after a video review for Carlos Palacios kneeing Otamendi. Herrera, who was taken out after 20 minutes, got a red card for protesting the decision.

Belotti was ejected for a foul when a foot caught Ayrton Costa on the back of the head and Figal for knocking over Florentino.

Key moment

Otamendi’s front post header helped Benfica salvage a point.

Takeaways

Boca Juniors, after underperforming last season in the Argentina first division and disappointing in the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores, used the support of their fans to fuel them and earn a point in group play. Their second match, against Bayern Munich in Miami on Friday, will prove to be a more challenging game.

Benfica, which was imprecise in its play and gave the ball away many times unprovoked, will take on the only semi-professional team in the Club World Cup, Auckland City, which was badly beaten 10-0 by Bayern.

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