Boca came back in the second half and Merentiel scored a great goal, but they suffered at the end and lost to Bayern Munich.
For Boca fans, it's a bitter feeling. Just like in the match against Benfica, Miguel Ángel Russo's team showed some positive traits. They showed commitment and effort. They felt they had the dream result in their grasp... and in the end, it slipped away. They lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich and are no longer in control of their own path to the round of 16.
The first half was a nightmare. The Germans had complete control of the match and went 1-0 up at halftime, thanks to a Harry Kane goal, but they could have easily scored a couple more goals given their dominance.
Perhaps fortunate enough not to be down by a bigger margin, the team found courage and went out in search of an equalizer. At times, with more fighting spirit than football. And although it seemed impossible, they achieved it. It was thanks to a marvelous piece of play by Miguel Merentiel, who battled alone with two German defenders to beat Neuer with a powerful shot.
It seemed like a draw was a well-deserved reward for so much effort. But once again, it was not enough. Michael Olise made it 2-1 with seven minutes left, and Boca had run out of energy.
Now, they need Bayern to beat Benfica on the final day. If the Germans, already qualified, secure that victory by at least one goal, Boca Juniors will need to score seven against Auckland City in the closing stages to make it into the last 16.
Although they deserved better luck, Boca Juniors lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich and now enters the final matchday with little chance of qualifying for the round of 16. They need to beat Auckland by a landslide and hope Bayern can help them with a win against Benfica.
After a tremendous effort to level the score and reach a draw, the Germans' 2-1 victory was a slap in the face for Boca Juniors, who appear to have given up. The match is slipping away.
A beautiful combination by Bayern Munich between Thomas Muller and Konrad Laimer ended with a superb goal from the Austrian, but the goal was ruled out due to an automatic offside decision. The score remained 2-1.
Boca's joy crumbles at the end. The German team enters the Xeneize penalty area with a touch. Harry Kane passes to Olise, who fires a left-footed shot past Marchesin's right post. After so much effort, Russo's team feels like a very good point is slipping away.
For Boca, Milton Giménez and Williams Alarcón came on for Palacios and Belmonte. The Boca Juniors crowd went wild after the draw and now want more.
Merentiel's tremendous play changes the mood of both teams. Now Boca is the one pushing into the German half and determinedly seeking the second.
Without any help in attack, Merentiel dragged down Jonathan Tah's marker, then evaded Josip Stanisic and scored one of the best goals of the Club World Cup. A stunning individual performance from the Uruguayan.
Malcom Braida makes his debut for Boca Juniors. He replaces Kevin Zenón and moves to the left wing. Alan Velasco then moves to the right wing, and Russo's formation is now more attacking, with a 4-1-4-1 formation.
Jamal Musiala and Aleksandar Pavlovic are the first substitutes to join Bayern Munich. Gnabry and Goretzka leave the field.
Lautaro Blanco's first foray down the left flank resulted in a fine pass to Velasco, who sent in a fine cross, but Zenón couldn't connect. It was one of Boca's first organized and stinging plays, which is slowly lifting their spirits.
The Peruvian, worried by Coman's constant pressure, recovered the ball for the first time and dared to go on the attack, but his left-footed shot was very poor, several meters over the crossbar.
With no changes for Miguel Ángel Russo's team, the second half is underway. There are no changes for the German side either, although Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané, two attacking players, are already preparing to make changes. Kompany knows Boca needs to get out front and wants to exploit the space.
The last, in the 47th minute, went to Harry Kane. He blasted it over the bar from a free kick. Leon Goretzka was booked for protesting. Boca Juniors had a tough time, and the one-goal deficit doesn't seem like a bad deal given the run of the match. They'll need to improve significantly in the second half.
The storm seems to have passed for Russo's team. They're gradually playing more time in the German half. Kevin Zenón's mobility and deployment were key to the team's success. It's still not enough to reflect this in the result. They're losing 1-0.
Disorganized, with a lot of courage and almost no ideas, Boca gradually began to emerge. Zenón had another opportunity, entering the box from the right and unleashing a powerful left-footed shot that was parried by Manuel Neuer.
A backheel from Merentiel to Zenón ended with a foul by Guerreiro. Kevin Zenón himself took the free kick, and Neuer sent the ball out for a corner. It was the first chance of the match for the Xeneize. On the counterattack after the corner, after a great counterattack by Coman, Marchesin blocked Olise's goal.
Bayern control the game completely, with 75% possession in the first 25 minutes. Boca Juniors fail to gain possession, and when they do, they clear the ball into the German half. The team's three ball-holders (Zenón, Palacios, and Velasco) are still missing.
Boca Juniors no longer know how to contain Bayern Munich. Gnabry broke through on the right and crossed a pass to Frenchman Coman, who missed the ball with an empty net. With sheer pressure, the German team overwhelmed Boca Juniors.
Nothing to review this time. Harry Kane scores after a poor clearance from Luis Advíncula. Russo's team is increasingly withdrawn and is suffering from the German attack.
The situation seems comical, if it weren't for the fact that Marcos Rojo's discipline has been a problem for Boca Juniors. The defender has just been booked on the bench.
There are 13, but very little has been played due to reviews and some discussions. Kingsley Coman is starting to become a concern on the right side of the Xeneize defense. Advíncula isn't confident in his position.
After the VAR review, the referee decides to disallow Olise's goal. Gnabry's obstruction of Marchesin is quite clear. Boca fans celebrate in the stands... and feel relief.
A corner kick from Olise ends up inside Boca's goal, but the Boca players complain about Gnabry blocking Marchesin in the six-yard box. Referee Alireza Faghani reviews the incident with VAR.
First actions with Bayern Munich, who are trying to play in the opponent's half. Boca Juniors are closing down at the back, but trying to push forward after clearances. Coman was the first to cause concern with a simple run past Advíncula.
The match is underway at the Hard Rock Hotel for the second matchday of Group C of the Club World Cup. Boca Juniors is looking to qualify for the round of 16 against Bayern Munich.
The FIFA ceremony is already underway at the Hard Rock Stadium, with players entering one by one following the usual protocol for this Club World Cup.
During Boca's lineup announcement at the stadium, the most applauded player was Uruguayan Miguel Merentiel. Ayrton Costa and coach Miguel Ángel Russo also received a standing ovation.
The teams finished their warm-up and headed to the locker room. Seventy percent of the Hard Rock Stadium was filled with Boca Juniors fans, who bid farewell to the players with the classic chant: "Dale Bo, Dale Bo."
Vincent Kompany's lineup against Boca Juniors: Manuel Neuer; Konrad Laimer, Jonathan Tah, Josip Stanisic, and Raphael Guerreiro; Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka; Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry, and Kingsley Coman; Harry Kane.
While Boca Juniors fans continue to enter the stadium, the teams perform pre-competition exercises on the Hard Rock turf.
In an atmosphere brimming with blue and gold, fans speak to LA NACION about the anxiety and enthusiasm of Boca Juniors fans ahead of the crucial match against Bayern Munich.
The Boca Juniors' tide invades Miami. The atmosphere at Hard Rock Stadium feels like it's La Bombonera, and fans continue to flock to the stadium. Another huge display of Boca Juniors' passion.
One of the streaks Boca is trying to defend is its unbeaten run against European teams in this Club World Cup. Until now, teams from the Old Continent have failed to win even a single match.
So far, there have been draws for Boca against Benfica (0-0), Palmeiras against Porto (0-0), Fluminense against Borussia Dortmund (0-0) and victories for Botafogo over PSG (1-0) and Flamengo against Chelsea (3-1).
Boca Juniors' starting lineup is now confirmed. There will be two changes, with Lautaro Di Lollo and Tomás Belmonte replacing the suspended Nicolás Figal and Ander Herrera. Ayrton Costa, who was initially doubtful due to a muscle injury, will remain in the team. Russo's lineup includes Marchesin; Advíncula, Di Lollo, Costa, and Blanco; Zenón, Belmonte, Battaglia, and Velasco; Palacios and Merentiel.
Boca Juniors and Bayern Munich have only faced each other once in an official match. It was in the 2001 Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo. The match, played on November 27, was won by the Germans 1-0, with a goal from Samuel Kuffour in the second half of extra time.
There were also two other friendly matches. The first, on Boca's memorable European tour, ended 1-1 in Munich. The Argentine goal was scored by Manuel Seoane, who, despite playing for El Porvenir, reinforced Boca's delegation.
The second was played in 1967, for the Joan Gamper Cup, in Barcelona, and Boca won 1-0 with a goal from Alfredo Hugo Rojas.
It's often said that European teams, with their financial power, underestimate South American teams. But that's not the case for Vincent Kompany, coach of Bayern Munich. After the shocking 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City, the former Belgium national team defender anticipated his trip from Cincinnati to Miami to watch the match between Boca Juniors and Benfica, his next two opponents.
Miguel Ángel Russo could have three changes to the squad that drew 2-2 with Benfica in the opening matchday. Marcos Rojo, Tomás Belmonte, and Luciano Di Lollo would come on for Ayrton Costa (injured), Ander Herrera (injured and suspended), and Nicolás Figal (suspended). The final lineup would be Agustín Marchesin; Luis Advíncula, Lautaro Di Lollo, Marcos Rojo, and Lautaro Blanco; Rodrigo Battaglia and Tomás Belmonte; Kevin Zenón, Carlos Palacios, and Alan Velasco; and Miguel Merentiel.
The match will be broadcast live on television via DSports and Telefé, channels that can be watched online on the digital platforms DGO, Mitelefé.com, Flow, and Telecentro Play. It can also be streamed on Disney+ Premium and DAZN, while live coverage can be found on canchallena.com .
We begin the minute-by-minute coverage of the second matchday of Group C at the Club World Cup. The match between Boca Juniors and Bayern Munich will kick off at 10 PM (Argentine time) at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Referee Alireza Faghani (Iranian, but naturalized Australian) will officiate. Miguel Ángel Russo's team faces a crucial match for the group stage, in which they are not the favorites.
Find live soccer scores, upcoming matches, standings, and all the stats from the world's major tournaments.
lanacion
