The Club World Cup kicked off dramatically as Argentine giants Boca Juniors and Portuguese heavyweights Benfica played out a 2-2 thriller that saw tempers flare and three players sent off in a chaotic Group C opener on Monday.
Goals from Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi helped Benfica mount a comeback after going two goals down early, but the Club World Cup game will be remembered just as much for its disciplinary drama as for the football on display.
The first flashpoint came just before halftime, but not on the pitch. Former Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Ander Herrera, who had already been substituted with an early injury in the 20th minute, stormed toward the match official during a VAR review.
Security intervened, but not before Herrera’s aggressive behaviour was reported to referee Cesar Arturo Ramos, who issued a straight red card to the injured midfielder for dissent from the bench.
Benfica were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when Andrea Belotti’s high boot caught a Boca player in the back of the head. Ramos initially brandished a yellow card, but after consulting VAR, he upgraded it to a red.
With the match poised at 2-2 late on, Boca Juniors were also cut down to 10 men when defender Jorge Figal flew into a reckless challenge near the touchline in the 88th minute.
The foul sparked brief tension near the Benfica dugout, with one of the match officials stepping in to prevent escalation before Ramos handed out his third red card of the night.
The goals came thick and fast early on. Boca stormed into a 2-0 lead by the 27th minute, only for Di Maria and Otamendi, two veterans of the Argentine national team, to hit back for Benfica, each scoring against their countrymen in a gripping turnaround.
The result leaves both sides with a point in Group C, which also includes Bayern Munich and Auckland City. Bayern made a statement of intent on Sunday with a resounding 10-0 demolition of the New Zealand club.
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