In the opening Group C fixture of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, played last night, Latin-American powerhouse Boca Juniors and European representative Benfica produced a genuinely wild match that finished in an entertaining 2-2 draw. The Argentines led comfortably at 2–0 for much of the evening, yet the Lisbon side showed character, wrested the initiative from their opponents and ultimately salvaged a vital point, keeping the group wide open. The contest was fought at the very limits of the players’ emotional and physical capacities, and the primary talking point after the final whistle was the flashes of temperament shown by the Eagles’ Turkish footballers.
From the very first minutes it was clear that Boca had opted for aggression: a high press, robust duels and fervent crowd support allowed the South Americans to strike first. It seemed that Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s men would cruise to a routine victory, but in the second half the Portuguese club reshaped the midfield, ignited the flanks and gradually began to squeeze the hosts. The tension level rose with every second, and any contentious episode instantly escalated into heated verbal skirmishes.
The decisive twist came in the 84th minute: Benfica skipper Orkun Kökçü, having approached the left-hand corner flag, whipped a sumptuous cross into the box. At the near post the veteran Nicolás Otamendi soared highest and nodded the ball into the far corner, restoring parity at 2–2. The Portuguese celebrations were so exuberant that the Argentine bench erupted, demanding a whistle for an imaginary foul, but after a VAR review the referee confirmed the goal.
Just four minutes later Boca defender Nicolás Figal, unable to keep his emotions in check on the touchline, lunged recklessly into holding midfielder Florentino and was immediately shown a straight red card. Reduced to ten men, the South Americans defended desperately, venturing forward only in the occasional counter-attack, but the scoreline remained unchanged.
The Incident Involving Benfica Forward Kerem Aktürkoğlu Deserves Special Mention. Throughout the match, our compatriot endured the endless chat and complaints of his opponent Belmonte to the referee, but in the 78th minute his patience snapped: sprinting up to the Argentine, Kerem demonstratively shoved him in the chest with an open palm. The Boca player theatrically collapsed at the referee’s feet, trying to draw a dismissal, yet the act was exposed by video replay and Aktürkoğlu escaped with only a verbal warning.
The final whistle confirmed a hard-fought draw that leaves both teams on equal footing. Even so, the emotional sparks and controversial episodes suggest that the remaining fixtures in this group will be no less fiery. For Benfica the importance lies not only in the result but also in the fact that their leaders — Orkun Kökçü and Kerem Aktürkoğlu — once again stepped up at crucial moments. Boca, meanwhile, must draw the lesson that controlling not only the ball but also one’s nerves is essential if they are to aspire to the play-offs of the global club showcase.
