Boca Juniors became the first team from Argentina to be eliminated from the FIFA Club World Cup. Miguel Ángel Russo’s men won their first game of the tournament on the night against Auckland City in Nashville, but due to Benfica’s 1-0 win against Bayern Munich, they were eliminated from Group C in third place.

The Xeneize began Tuesday knowing that the evening’s fixture against their semi-pro opposition from New Zealand was a must-win affair. Additionally, they would require Bayern to beat Benfica to stand any chance of making it through the group.

Despite others easily finding a breakthrough against the team that plays in Australia’s A-League, Boca struggled. Creativity was lacking for Russo’s team, and an early exit from the tournament looked like it could be on the cards after news of Benfica’s lead at Bayern hit Geodis Park.

But at the 26-minute mark, they found their own breakthrough. A quick whipped corner found the head of Lautaro Di Lollo, whose header clipped the post before ricocheting into the net off of opposition goalkeeper Nathan Garrow.

Hope remained alive for the travelling Boca fans. The volume was raised, and the team just needed a positive turnaround from Bundesliga champions Bayern in Charlotte. 

In what almost was a moment of irony, lightning struck, suspending play in the second half. Auckland had already equalised, and Boca could only wait while play continued in the other group game. Benfica labored to victory; meanwhile, Boca couldn’t get to the pitch to influence their own fate. 

They finally returned to the field, but the extended break halted any momentum to send the well-travelled fans home with a win. 

As a consolation for Argentina’s football-following faithful, the result will see Ángel Di Mária into the knockout stages in his final outing for Benfica before he rejoins boyhood club Rosario Central. The Portuguese team also features fellow Argentines Nicolás Otamendi and Gianluca Prestianni.

The result leaves Boca’s superclásico rivals River Plate the only Argentine representative remaining in the FIFA Club World Cup. They face Italy’s Inter Milan at Lumen Field in Seattle as the group phase of the competition in the United States comes to a conclusion. Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami have qualified for the knockout phase after drawing 2-2 with eventual group winners Palmeiras of Brazil.