The Club World Cup openers for legendary clubs Boca Juniors and Benfica saw the teams draw 2-2 in a heated match that produced three red cards, including one given to a player on the bench.
Boca Juniors is one of the most storied clubs from Argentina, while Benfica is one of Portugal’s best teams every year.
Many players on either side were familiar with each other, including Argentine legends Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi, who both scored against Boca Juniors.
The hysterics started right before halftime, not on the field, but just off of it, when former Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain star Ander Herrera tried to shove his way through security to talk to the head match official while he was in the middle of a VAR review.
Herrera was stopped and was shown a red card from head referee Cesar Arturo Ramos when he was relayed the events that occurred around him.
Herrera had already been subbed off in the 20th minute with an injury, but looked more than at full health to try and talk with the referee.
Ander Herrera got the first of three red cards in the match between Boca Juniors and Benfica
In the second half, Andrea Belotti was sent off after a reckless challenge in the 72nd minute
Just before second-half stoppage time, Boca Junior’s Jorge Figal was also shown a red card
The teams were even again at 10 men after a red card was showed to Benfica’s Andrea Belotti connected with a high boot to the back of the head of a Boca Juniors player.
Ramos originally gave Belotti a yellow card on the play but was called over to review the play via VAR. After a few moments inside the booth, Ramos replaced his initial caution with a sending off.
The final red card of the game came out in the 88th minute to Boca’s Jorge Figal, who was late and reckless with a challenge near the touch line, right in front of a group of Benfica players warming up.
One of the sideline officials immediately stepped between the group of Benfica players and Figal, with Ramos’ straight red quickly displayed.
The goals from Di Maria and Otamendi brought Benfica level, after they trailed 2-0 after the 27th minute.
Benfica and Boca Juniors are in Group C with Bayern Munich and Auckland City. On Sunday, the German giants defeated the upstart New Zealand side 10-0.
