Boca Juniors vs Benfica live updates: Otamendi goal levels chaotic Club World Cup 2025 Group C clash – The Athletic – The New York Times

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10-man Benfica are level with Boca Juniors in this Group C match after Nicolas Otamendi equalises with a bullet header.
The Portuguese side have come back from 2-0 down after first-half goals from Boca pair Miguel Merentiel and Rodrigo Battaglia. Angel Di Maria halved the deficit from the penalty spot, but it looked Benfica were heading for defeat after Andrea Belotti was sent off.
Otamendi had other ideas, thundering a header into the bottom corner from Orkun Kokcu's corner in the 84th minute.
This match completes the opening round of fixtures in the group, after Bayern Munich thrashed Auckland City 10-0 in Cincinnati on Sunday.
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90' Boca Juniors 2-2 Benfica
Ouch. That is horrendous challenge from Figal and he can have no complaints over being given his marching orders.
In a part of the pitch where Benfica posed no threat to Boca Juniors, he decided to lunge into a challenge on Florentino Luis with his studs crashing into the midfielder's knee.
No doubt in the referee's mind as the red card was straight out of his pocket!
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85' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
Phwoar, that is a thumping header from Nicolas Otamendi!
After another delay for a minor scuffle in the penalty area, the Boca Juniors defenders had fallen asleep a little. That allowed Otamendi to race towards the six-yard box where he met Kokcu's outswinging corner and powered it past a helpless Marchesin.
After being booed by the Boca fans coming out of the tunnel earlier, I'm sure the former Man City centre-back enjoyed that one!
84' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
Yes, they can find an equaliser!
And it is one of their Argentinian players who has scored it.
81' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
Benfica's task has been made much harder by that red card for Belotti. But they do still look a threat going forward, against a Boca Juniors that is clearly tiring in the Miami heat.
Benfica have nine minutes of normal time, plus a healthy amount of stoppage time, to find an equaliser — will they be able to do it despite having a man less?
77' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
Oh, that is a beauty of a sliding tackle from Jorge Figal!
Pavlidis looked to be racing into the Boca Juniors penalty area but he was stopped in his tracks by the flying Argentine. His challenge had to be perfectly timed, and it was. He got an adequate amount of the ball before crashing into the Benfica striker.
Pavlidis very clearly mouthed 'VAR' to the referee, but no chance they're getting involved in that one.
73' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
Yep. As we all know by now, once a referee goes over to the VAR monitor he will almost always reverse his on-field decision.
And Belotti will play no further in this game, or indeed the next, as he has been sent off for catching Costa on the back of the head with his boot.
Like the penalty in the first half, that feels very harsh but at least Cesar Arturo Ramos and his VAR colleagues are being consistent, I suppose.
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71' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
Ooo. Jeers from the Boca Juniors section of the stadium as Belotti catches the back of Costa's head.
It perhaps looks worse than it actually was, with the connection between boot and head being glancing at best.
But the referee has trudged over for another look at the VAR monitor, so we know what is coming here…
69' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
There has been no real flow to this second half which, as I said earlier, will suit Boca Juniors down to the ground.
A lazy foul from Carreras gave another Boca player the chance to roll around on the ground and kill some time. There was also a yellow card for the potentially Real Madrid-bound defender.
Giving away stupid fouls is definitely not going to help Benfica back into the game.
67' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
Worth mentioning that Alvaro Carreras has been a starter for Benfica today despite some rumours suggesting he might not play amid interest from Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants have an agreement with him on personal terms but have not yet reached the same with Benfica. Carreras remains Madrid's plan to reinforce the left-back position.
66' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
And there will be a pair of substitutions for Boca Juniors.
One of them is forced with the scorer of the first goal, Merentiel, unable to continue — Exequiel Zeballos has replaced him.
In midfield, Williams Alarcon is on for Palacios.
63' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
There will be no yellow card for Sanches this evening because he has just been substituted. On in his place is Orkun Kokcu, a player with a keen eye for a goal from midfield.
There is also a change in the frontline with Bruma being replaced by Kerem Akturkoglu. Two attacking changes made by Lage.
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61' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
Compared to the chaos of the first half, this has been a pretty level-headed, quiet second half.
And that plays nicely into the hands of Boca Juniors who are protecting their lead very well.
Benfica need some inspiration, and it looks as though Bruno Lage is going to his bench to find it…
57' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
Renato Sanches has cut a very frustrated figure throughout this match.
He was fouled a few times in the first half and squared up to Palacios just before half-time. And he has looked pretty desperate to get his name taken by the referee in this second half, fouling twice and engaging in more afters with his latest victim.
One more offence and I'm sure he will be shown a yellow card.
54' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
Given the tempo at which the Boca Juniors snapped into challenges in the first half, you have to imagine fatigue will start to have a say in this match as the second half continues.
It is a very warm evening in Miami with temperatures in the high 80s, so managing fitness and legs will be key for the side currently leading in this match.
50' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
The beginning of the second half perhaps opened the opportunity for the players to come out in a more relaxed, well-behaved manner.
But nope!
More play-acting with a Boca player writhing around in apparent agony only to return to his feet in full working order seconds later. And another foul, this time from Sanches, in a full-blooded midfield battle.
47' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
No major surprise to see Samuel Dahl hooked by Benfica manager Bruno Lage. The Swede was out of position on the right flank and never really looked comfortable there.
With Andrea Bellotti on, Benfica will presumably now go with two up front. Interesting.
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46' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
Just the one of personnel at the break with Andrea Belotti replacing Samuel Dahl for Benfica.
46' Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
After that much-needed half-time break, the ball is rolling again at Hard Rock Stadium.
Can Boca Juniors hold on for a huge victory, or will Benfica come back to salvage a result?
Let's find out!
HT Boca Juniors 2-1 Benfica
Look at the celebration from Battaglia after giving Boca Juniors a 2-0 lead!

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