Boca, his new face against Benfica and a version that fell fans more fell in love

Miami (special envoy) – Boca got something that seemed very distant weeks ago. HE He won the recognition of his people In the 2-2 draw against Benfica, which marked his debut in the Club World Cup, with a remakein the style Miguel Ángel Russo.

May 19, makes almost a month ago, Boca lost to Independiente In La Bombonera and said goodbye to the opening with an interim at command and a mantle of reprobation that unified a large part of the fans present that night.

That fall, which cut the dream of the title nationwide, was the drop that overwhelmed the glass in a 2025 chaotic for mouthwho was indebted at every opportunity in which he could hit the blow.

It was Out of liberatorsas a local, before Alianza Lima, and also He lost the classic With River. All defeats that fell deep and Fernando Gago’s cycle endedthat the tournament did not even end.

No championship, and with time thinking about the World Cup, Riquelme and company thought of A FRIEND OF THE HOUSE To take the reins of the club: Miguel Ángel Russo.

With a little more than two weeks to work, since his actuality in San Lorenzo during that time demanded to play semifinals of the tournament, the experienced coach managed to convey to the squad something he is looking for.

During their conferences, Russo always highlighted concepts: “compete” and “simple football”two things that came out in the Hard Rock in Miami.

First, from the mood, Boca showed another face, one that the fan had been claiming for a long time. Attitude to each ball, determination and presence, all qualities that were represented in almost all the players who went on the playing field in Miami.

From this factor attitudinalthe engine lit with the running of the minutes. The fears before the European team on duty were left behind and The development was pairedwith a mouth also supported by his fans.

With the idea of ​​counterattack, Boca retreated, waited for Benfica and gave him control of the ball. When recovering, with Velasco and Zenón by bandsthe goal was to leave quickly, try to find Merentiel and not waste time to surprise a defense that always played advanced.

To the surprise of the Portuguese, An old formula in the history of football resulted for 1-0: lateral, center and goal overflow of ‘9’. Thus came the 1-0 of Merentiel, which was scored again in a key match for Boca.

The defensive task was titanic, highlighting once again Russo managed to install the sacrifice chip in players With greater offensive vocations, such as Velasco, Zenón and Palacios.

Being a controller of the shares, Boca hit again, and again with A variant who got little revenue with previous coaches and Russo could already take advantage of. This is the ball stopped, possibly the most skinny point of the team in recent years.

Zenon center, coast header and second test, now from Battaglia, for 2-0. Madness in Miami, in the mouth and among the fans. The result, which looked like a utopia, was happening.

Unfortunately for Boca, among the stubborn spirit of Benfica, who sought the tie everywhere, and some neglect, the Xeneize ended up missing a victory that was very close to completing.

The idea of ​​the team for the second half will remain for the internal analysis, more bound to the defense than the attack and without being able to take advantage of the man after the Belotti red.

The truth is that Boca ended Miami’s late-night with flavor bittersweet. The task was fulfilled, in part. He competed, as Russo askedgave his best and managed to match a duel that, in the papers, did not have Boca as a possible winner. He put Benfica in trouble, took two goals of advantage but in the end he ended up succumbing to the final 2-2.

At the end of the game, people recognized the effortstarting with rebuild that link that was worn, almost broken. He applauded the players, supported for 90 minutes and there was also special ovation for Russo, who started his third cycle in the middle of the storm.

The Russo 3.0 era began with the right foot. Boca showed his new face in the United States, came out at the right time and now excites his people. What if the big blow is brewing?