10-man Benfica come from behind to force 10-man Boca Juniors to a 2-2 draw on matchday 1 of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Group Stage Group C match held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, USA on Monday.

In the first half, Merentiel pushed the ball into the net from close range, Battaglia scored with a header, Herrera was sent off for swearing at the referee from the bench, and Di María scored with a penalty. In the second half, Belotti was sent off for a foul by kicking the opponent's head in the air, and Otamendi scored with a header. At the critical moment, Figal retaliated by knocking down Florentino and was sent off. In the end, 10-man Benfica come from behind to force 10-man Boca Juniors to a 2-2 draw. After this round of matches, As Águias are temporarily second in the group with 1 point; Los Xeneizes are temporarily third in the group with 1 point.

First Half

In the 21st minute, Lautaro Blanco passes horizontally from the byline at the left wing. Miguel Merentiel quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, pushes the ball into the bottom right corner of the net with his right foot from a very close distance in the box. Boca Juniors broke the deadlock to take a 0-1 lead!! This is the Argentine Primera División giants center forward's 8th goal in all competitions this season!

6 minutes later, Boca Juniors got a corner kick opportunity. Kevin Zenón took the corner by crossing it into the box. Ayrton Costa headed the ball across before Rodrigo Battaglia rose high and scored with a header in the box. Boca Juniors quickly expanded its lead to 0-2!

In the 43rd minute, Benfica got a corner kick opportunity. Ángel Di María took the corner by crossing it into the box. Nicolás Otamendi was knocked down by Carlos Palacios' knee in the air when he was fighting for the header. The VAR assistant referee intervened immediately!

During this time, Boca Juniors' Spain international defensive midfielder Ander Herrera was directly sent off with a red card for swearing at the referee from the bench when the referee personally walked to the sidelines to watch the VAR video replay!

After VAR check, it was confirmed that Palacios committed a malicious foul, thus the referee awarded Benfica a penalty on the spot!

Ángel Di María took the penalty and scored with his left foot, and Benfica pulled a goal back at 1-2! This was the former Argentina legendary international winger's 48th individual goal in his Benfica career!

At the end of the first half, Benfica temporarily trailed Boca Juniors 1-2 as they entered the half-time break.

Second Half

Both teams switched sides as the match continued. In the 71st minute, Andrea Belotti was given a yellow card by the referee for kicking Costa's head in the box during an attack. However, the VAR assistant referee intervened, and after the referee personally went to the sidelines to watch the VAR video replay, he and upgraded Belotti's punishment to a red card and sent him off. Benfica was forced to finish the game with 10-man!

13 minutes later, Benfica got a corner kick opportunity. Orkun Kökçü took the corner kick by crossing it into the box. Nicolás Otamendi  rose high and scored with a header in the box. Benfica equalized Boca Juniors at 2-2! This is the As Águias captain's 15th goal in his Benfica career!

In the 82nd minute, after successfully intercepting the ball on the right wing, Florentino was retaliated by Nicolás Figal. The referee immediately blew the whistle and sent the latter off with a red card. Boca Juniors was forced to finish the game with 10-man!

When the final whistle is blown, 10-man Benfica come from behind to force 10-man Boca Juniors to a 2-2 draw.