Boca supporters reignite
Follow all the action live as German giants Bayern Munich face Boca Juniors in their second Club World Cup match Getty Images
Michael Olise has restored Bayern Munich's lead against Boca Juniors in the Club World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Bundesliga champions totally dominated the first half and must have been left scratching their heads as to how they did not go into half-time with a bigger advantage. Harry Kane got the only goal of the first half in the 18th minute after Michael Olise's olimpico was disallowed by VAR 10 minutes earlier.
Miguel Merentiel then made them pay with a brilliant second-half equaliser, but Olise did get his goal in the 84th minute to make it 2-1 with a very nice finish. Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida How to watch: DAZN, TBS; highlights will be available on The Athletic
You can sign up to DAZN to watch every FIFA Club World Cup game for free.
GO FURTHER
Pace, swerve, angle – the art of the 'olimpico', football's (usually) rare phenomenon Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Getty Images
That accidental olimpico momentarily silenced and humbled the partisan Boca Juniors crowd.
But they're back at it after the VAR check. Let the chanting continue. Getty Images
A shame for the Club World Cup to be denied a gol olimpico: one scored straight from a corner.
First big incident: Michael Olise's inswinging corner evades everyone and goes in at the far post. Much bafflement, not least among the Boca defenders. VAR takes a look at it and it's disallowed for a foul by Serge Gnabry on Boca goalkeeper Marchesin. Getty Images
9' Bayern Munich 0-0 Boca Juniors
We have a VAR check on the goal, and it's a pretty easy decision for the referee. Serge Gnabry was clearly interfering with Boca goalkeeper Marchesin.
No goal. We play on, still scoreless.
8' Bayern Munich 1-0 Boca Juniors
It's a Michael Olise olimpico! Getty Images
7' Bayern Munich 0-0 Boca Juniors
Very much a feeling-out period between these two teams thus far. Nothing even resembling a quality chance for either side.
So while I have a moment, I just want to call attention again to the utterly brilliant atmosphere at Hard Rock Stadium right now. Boca Juniors are flexing their status as Argentine giants in a massive way with how their supporters have turned out tonight — and for a 9 p.m. local time kick-off, no less.
This is on another level from Boca's first game at the Hard Rock. It is as close in atmosphere to the Bombonera as you'll find outside of Buenos Aires. They've unfurled all their banners, smuggled in dozens of flags and balloons. Looks the closest to a sell-out in a ground that has come repeatedly close to selling out during the Club World Cup. Getty Images
1' Bayern Munich 0-0 Boca Juniors
Here we go!
This is the exact sort of atmosphere and match-up the architects of this Club World Cup likely dreamed of when they envisioned this tournament. A racous environment in a sold-out NFL stadium in a major American city, with a match-up between European and South American heavyweight clubs on tap.
I can't wait for this one, and hope you feel similar. Thanks for staying up and spending your Friday night with us.
If this were hockey, a Boca player would start a fight with Harry Kane as soon as the ball is kicked off. Gloves will be off tonight. Getty Images
Inter Miami manager and former River Plate enforcer Javier Mascherano arrived at Hard Rock Stadium a short while ago. Tonight he'll pull for Bayern before facing Palmeiras at the same ground on Monday night. James Horncastle / The Athletic
No knock on TQL Stadium, which is a lovely modern little soccer arena home to a great MLS side in FC Cincinnati. But Hard Rock Stadium tonight is about as different as a venue as you can get from Bayern Munich's Club World Cup opener.
Even setting aside the vast cultural differences between the cities of Cincinnati and Miami themselves, TQL Stadium has a capacity of 26,000 and has hosted... four USMNT matches, three USWNT matches (all friendlies) and a 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup match between Guatemala and Jamaica.
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, on the other hand, seats 75,000 and has hosted six NFL Super Bowls and over 30 international soccer matches, including the 2024 Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia.
It stands to reason the team that calls the similarly prestigious Allianz Arena home might feel in a bit more familiar surroundings tonight — at least, until they look up into the stands and see the very vocal contingent of Boca Juniors supporters on hand.
Boos for Bayern as the players come out one-by-one. It's a home crowd in Miami. Getty Images
I was impressed by Kevin Zenon in Boca's opener against Benfica. Nice left foot, consistently good decisions, decent understanding with Luis Advincula behind him. Looking forward to seeing more tonight. Getty Images
History buffs will have clocked that this is a repeat of the 2001 edition of the Intercontinental Cup. Boca, South America's champions, travelled to Tokyo with high hopes that November and gave a good account of themselves, only to concede the only goal of the game in extra time. The scorer for Bayern? Samuel Kuffour. Getty Images
It wasn't necessarily a surprise to see Bayern Munich win so comfortably in their opening game against Auckland City.
What was surprising, though, was the absence of Harry Kane's name on the scoresheet.
It was scarcely believable that he wasn't able to score — or assist — in a game where his team-mates managed 10 goals. And he didn't look particularly threatening either.
This is a much bigger test of Bayern's tournament credentials and they could do with Kane joining the party. Getty Images
... one Tom Brady is in attendance today.
Harry Kane is a well-documented fan of the legendary American football star, and Brady has shared some mutual respect for the England captain over the years. Plus, Brady happens to live in Miami year-round after his 2023 retirement from the NFL.
Not only is there some mutual connection with Kane's long-stated interest to possibly join an NFL team as a kicker one day, but Brady also now works as an NFL commentator for FOX Sports, which holds the English-language broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S. Getty Images
Harry Kane was one of the Bayern players who came through the mixed zone yesterday. He is a big fan of US sports and teased the idea of coming back to Miami one day. It was unclear whether he meant as a kicker for the NFL's Miami Dolphins or perhaps one day replacing one of the DPs at Inter Miami. Getty Images
Still no Cavani for Boca. He hasn't made the squad again. His career with the Xeneizes has been underwhelming. A miss against Allianz Lima in the Copa Libertadores preliminaries continues to haunt him. I was at the Bombonera last month for a league game against Estudiantes. He had a penalty saved. In short, a big name but not a big miss. Getty Images
The third match of the day — between LAFC and Esperance — has just finished, and it is a damaging defeat for the MLS side.
They spurned a few decent chances and were hit by a 70th-minute sucker punch. Youcef Belaili was the man who squeezed his effort past Hugo Lloris and that turned out to be the winning goal at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
LAFC were handed a golden chance to keep themselves alive at this tournament deep in stoppage time, but Denis Bouanga saw his penalty saved.
That result confirms their elimination, making them the second team to be knocked out of the 2025 Club World Cup.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Aaron Nesmith puts Chet Holmgren on poster with insane putback
The post Aaron Nesmith puts Chet Holmgren on poster with insane putback appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Indiana Pacers will be facing elimination following their 120-109 Game 5 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. One thing the Pacers have going for them is Game 6 will be on their home court. And in the midst of the Pacers trying to spark a late rally in Game 5, Aaron Nesmith had one of the highlights of the night with an insane poster dunk on Thunder big man Chet Holmgren. Advertisement Aaron Nesmith's poster dunk on Chet Holmgren came late in the fourth quarter as the Pacers trailed the Thunder by double digits. The dunk cut the Thunder lead to 120-105 with about two and a half minutes remaining. But the Pacers would only score two more points the rest of the way and would fall despite the Thunder not scoring any points from that point on. If the Pacers want to keep their season alive and extend the NBA Finals to deciding Game 7, they'll need strong production from players like Nesmith. He gave the Pacers a solid performance in Game 5 finishing with 14 points, six rebounds and one steal while shooting 5-of-9 from the field and 4-of-5 from the three-point line in a little over 24 minutes. His poster dunk on Holmgren was the only non three-point shot he hit. During the Pacers playoff run so far, Nesmith had been averaging a playoff career-high 13.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists with splits of 47.9 percent shooting from the field, 49.1 percent shooting from the three-point line and 87.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line. Now in his third season with the Pacers, Nesmith has developed into one of the Pacers' most dependable role players on both ends of the court. This season, he shot a career-high 43.1 percent from the three-point line. The No. 14 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Nesmith was acquired by the Pacers in a trade with the Boston Celtics ahead of the 2022-23 season. Related: Pacers' Pascal Siakam gives Tyrese Haliburton '100%' support after woeful Game 5 Related: Pacers' Myles Turner drops unfazed 'best time of year' take despite rough Game 5 loss
New York Times
18 minutes ago
- New York Times
Brazil expresses interest in hosting 2029 Club World Cup
Brazil has expressed its interest in hosting the 2029 men's Club World Cup. A statement from the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) said that its newly-elected president, Sami Xaud, held a meeting with his FIFA counterpart, Gianni Infantino, on Friday where the idea was discussed. The ongoing Club World Cup is taking place in the United States and The Athletic reported in December that FIFA was considering hosting the tournament in the same location in four years. Advertisement Meanwhile, James Johnson, Football Australia's chief executive, told the Sydney Morning Herald in June 2023 that his country would consider bidding for the 2029 hosting rights. Reports from Africa have also quoted the Moroccan FA (FRMF) chief Fouzi Lekjaa as saying his nation, alongside Spain and Portugal, would want to host the tournament a year before they act as co-hosts for the men's World Cup. 'It all started with an introductory conversation,' Xaud said, via the CBF website. 'I spoke about my goals as head of the CBF and said that we want to be closer to FIFA. I praised the event and the level of Brazilian clubs and, finally, I made the country available to host the next World Cup. 'President Gianni Infantino was very happy and said that it was totally possible. Now we're going to work to make it happen. It's going to be a great goal.' The meeting, the CBF said, took place at the FIFA Executive Football Summit 2025 in Miami. Xaud, meanwhile, was elected as CBF president in May, replacing Ednaldo Rodrigues who was removed from the position after a court ruling in Brazil. Brazil has four of South America's six clubs competing at the 2025 Club World Cup, in Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense and Botafogo qualifying as the respective winners of the Copa Libertadores from 2021 to 2025. The Brazilian Serie A runs from March to December but has paused for a month due to the Club World Cup. (Photo of Flamengo celebrating at the Club World Cup,)
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rafael Devers goes 0-for-5 in first game vs. Red Sox since blockbuster trade
When the Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, they did it knowing they would be facing their disgruntled former player in just five days. That game arrived on Friday. Taking the field only as a designated hitter, but with first base in his future, Devers failed to make his old team pay, going 0-for-5 at the plate in a 7-5 loss. He did receive a nice ovation before his first at-bat, though. Devers' hitless night wasn't for lack of balls in play. He managed to lift a ball to the left-field wall in the third inning, but was robbed of an extra-base hit by former teammate Ceddane Rafaela. Devers finished his night with his lone strikeout, swinging and missing at a 102-mph fastball from Aroldis Chapman. He is now 3-for-16 with one double four games into his Giants career. Devers met with reporters before the game to discuss the reunion, though he mostly indicated a desire to move on after a very public falling out with the Red Sox front office. Advertisement Devers was the longest-tenured player on the team and in the early years of a team-record 10-year, $313.5 million contract, but made his displeasure public in spring training when it became clear the Red Sox wanted to move him off third base in favor of new arrival Alex Bregman, a Gold Glover at the position. The matter appeared to settle when Devers agreed to transition to designated hitter — a potentially temporary move given that Bregman can opt out of his deal this winter — but the hurt feelings came back when the Red Sox asked if he could cover first base after a season-ending injury to Triston Casas. Devers declined, then said a lot of things to reporters you can't take back. Boston traded him a month later. Rafael Devers didn't want to play first base for the Red Sox. Or he didn't want to say "yes" after how they asked him. (Photo by Darren Yamashita/MLB Photos via Getty Images) (Darren Yamashita via Getty Images) Speaking on Friday, Devers didn't say much he hadn't already said during his introduction with the Giants, but he did make one notable claim, via NBC Sports Boston: 'I would say that I put some good numbers up in Boston, and I think that I do feel that I have earned some respect,' Devers told reporters through an interpreter at Oracle Park. 'If they would have asked me at the beginning of spring training, yes, I would have played.' Advertisement Obviously, the Red Sox weren't going to ask Devers to play first base while Casas was still healthy. However, those comments show how much further this dispute went beyond a simple position change. As the Red Sox brass indicated the day after the trade, the conflict ultimately came down to communication and personality. In the meantime, Devers has been taking grounders at first base since he arrived in San Francisco, but won't make his debut at the position this weekend.
