Fans-tastic: FIFA relief at huge crowds

Partisan support

Heavily armed police were present at checkpoints to ensure order among a Boca supporters' group that is renowned for being extremely fierce and passionate. But, most of the rough and tumble was on the field, not in the stands, as the game included red cards for Boca's Andres Herrera in the 44th, Benfica's Andrea Belotti in the 72nd and Boca's Nicolas Figal in the 88th.

Boca Juniors played in front of a largely partisan crowd, with the Argentine club's supporters making up most of the 55,574 attendees at Hard Rock Stadium.

Both teams finished a man short, and one Boca player was ejected after he was substituted from the match.

The Argentine club had led 2-0 thanks to goals from Miguel Merentiel and Rodrigo Battaglia, and looked set for a night of celebration.

Boca fans had taken over Miami Beach over the weekend, thousands of them gathering on the seafront, drinking and waving flags for hours in the searing heat.

A video of Boca fans jumping and chanting in a local Walmart supermarket, to the bemusement of regular shoppers, had captured the mood, but it was nothing compared to the atmosphere inside Hard Rock Stadium.

The home of the Miami Dolphins was turned into a Bombonera by the beach, with 90 percent of the crowd decked out in blue and yellow and bringing a level of constant noise rarely, if ever, heard for NFL games here.

When the action got underway, it was clear that the enthusiasm from the stands was going to be matched on the field, with Boca confirming the feeling that South American clubs in this tournament are out to prove a point against their European opponents.

Agencies