The mission failed successfully for Auckland FC
After a week spent as the butt of jokes and sparking club confusion with crosstown rivals, Auckland City might have just had the last laugh.
The part-timers from New Zealand have pulled off the biggest shock of the FIFA Club World Cup, drawing with Argentine giants Boca Juniors 1-1 to conclude their tournament in the United States.
Not bad for a side packed with tradies and teachers who fell 10-0 to Bayern Munich and 6-0 to Benfica earlier in the campaign.
Another Kiwi side - A-League Men premiers Auckland FC - were riding the bumps all the way with their semi-professional comrades.
Plenty had confused Auckland City for the Steve Corica-coached Auckland FC during the tournament, leading the ALM side to play the role of fact-checker, with hilarious results.
"Long day explaining there's two clubs in Auckland", one post read.
The FIFA-backed league is currently considering clubs from across the region, and Auckland FC want in.
McFlynn said it would be "silly" and "disrespectful" not to bid for entry into the eight-team competition, which is also likely to have an Australian side.
OFC Pro League manager Stuart Larman said the competition would give a huge boost to the region's footballers currently in amateur environments looking to make the step up.
"When I was going across the islands, one of the things I was asking people, just out of curiosity, was how many competitive matches do your top players get in a year?," Larman told AAP.
"At the moment, they struggled to say one, two or three. Now, now we're guaranteeing the top players 17 highly competitive matches every single year.
"The more frequent highly competitive football will see an overall improvement in the standard football."
Australian NPL sides South Melbourne and Sunshine Coast Fire have already expressed interest alongside clubs from Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and the Solomon Islands.
The successful sides will be announced in September.
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Wallabies' preparation for Lions the priority: Larkham
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is taking a country before club approach to selection for the British and Irish Lions, but is hopeful some Wallabies will return for the ACT clash. After arriving in Perth for their opening tour match against the Western Force on Saturday, Lions boss Ben Calveley claimed Rugby Australia was in danger of breaching the tour agreement if they didn't release their best Wallabies to the state teams the tourists will face. This was brushed off by RA with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt already freeing five Force players from his 36-strong squad, while on Wednesday hooker Matt Faessler and centre Hunter Paisami were given the green light to turn out for their Queensland side. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) and Seru Uru (knee) have also both been cleared to play for the Reds against the Lions next Wednesday and push their case to return to the Wallabies squad. Larkham, who was part of the triumphant 2001 Australian campaign, said he understood a Wallabies series win was the priority for the country. "Knowing that the Wallabies have to get their preparation right going into that first game - they've got a game against Fiji on Sunday and we play on the Wednesday," said the former great. "And then 10 days later the Wallabies play their first Test against British and Irish Lions, so if some of our players aren't playing for us in preparation for that first Test it's certainly understandable." Bowing out in the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals earlier this month, the Brumbies have a proud record against the Lions - in 2013 they became the first provincial side to post a victory on Australian soil in more than 40 years. Larkham said they had shown vision of that win to the current crop and excitement, and pressure, was building ahead of the July 9 match in Canberra. He said conversations were continuing about players who weren't going to be used in the first Test in Brisbane on July 19 returning to bolster the Brumbies. "We're short in a couple of positions and we are reliant on some of those Wallabies coming back in," he said, with the Brumbies providing 10 squad members and four training partners, with young prop Lington Ieli also joining the camp. "Certainly those players who are training up there, we're reliant on those guys coming back into the squad to play and then hopefully a couple of Test players come back into our team to play in that game as well. "There's a couple of conversations that have to happen with Rugby Australia at the back end of this week when they'll know a little bit more around who they're going to select for the Fiji game. "Then we'll know who we're going to have available for our game against the Lions." Speaking from the Wallabies base in Sydney, Force flyhalf Ben Donaldson said he would happily play in Perth if released from the Test squad. "Oh yeah, I think so ... any chance you get to play against the Lions, you probably take it with both hands," Donaldson said. "I'm hearing it's going to be a huge crowd out at Optus (Stadium) in Perth so it would be extremely exciting, especially off the back of the year we had at the Force this year. "Even to play in front of the fans, just to give them something to cheer about to finish the year, it would have been awesome." Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is taking a country before club approach to selection for the British and Irish Lions, but is hopeful some Wallabies will return for the ACT clash. After arriving in Perth for their opening tour match against the Western Force on Saturday, Lions boss Ben Calveley claimed Rugby Australia was in danger of breaching the tour agreement if they didn't release their best Wallabies to the state teams the tourists will face. This was brushed off by RA with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt already freeing five Force players from his 36-strong squad, while on Wednesday hooker Matt Faessler and centre Hunter Paisami were given the green light to turn out for their Queensland side. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) and Seru Uru (knee) have also both been cleared to play for the Reds against the Lions next Wednesday and push their case to return to the Wallabies squad. Larkham, who was part of the triumphant 2001 Australian campaign, said he understood a Wallabies series win was the priority for the country. "Knowing that the Wallabies have to get their preparation right going into that first game - they've got a game against Fiji on Sunday and we play on the Wednesday," said the former great. "And then 10 days later the Wallabies play their first Test against British and Irish Lions, so if some of our players aren't playing for us in preparation for that first Test it's certainly understandable." Bowing out in the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals earlier this month, the Brumbies have a proud record against the Lions - in 2013 they became the first provincial side to post a victory on Australian soil in more than 40 years. Larkham said they had shown vision of that win to the current crop and excitement, and pressure, was building ahead of the July 9 match in Canberra. He said conversations were continuing about players who weren't going to be used in the first Test in Brisbane on July 19 returning to bolster the Brumbies. "We're short in a couple of positions and we are reliant on some of those Wallabies coming back in," he said, with the Brumbies providing 10 squad members and four training partners, with young prop Lington Ieli also joining the camp. "Certainly those players who are training up there, we're reliant on those guys coming back into the squad to play and then hopefully a couple of Test players come back into our team to play in that game as well. "There's a couple of conversations that have to happen with Rugby Australia at the back end of this week when they'll know a little bit more around who they're going to select for the Fiji game. "Then we'll know who we're going to have available for our game against the Lions." Speaking from the Wallabies base in Sydney, Force flyhalf Ben Donaldson said he would happily play in Perth if released from the Test squad. "Oh yeah, I think so ... any chance you get to play against the Lions, you probably take it with both hands," Donaldson said. "I'm hearing it's going to be a huge crowd out at Optus (Stadium) in Perth so it would be extremely exciting, especially off the back of the year we had at the Force this year. "Even to play in front of the fans, just to give them something to cheer about to finish the year, it would have been awesome." Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham is taking a country before club approach to selection for the British and Irish Lions, but is hopeful some Wallabies will return for the ACT clash. After arriving in Perth for their opening tour match against the Western Force on Saturday, Lions boss Ben Calveley claimed Rugby Australia was in danger of breaching the tour agreement if they didn't release their best Wallabies to the state teams the tourists will face. This was brushed off by RA with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt already freeing five Force players from his 36-strong squad, while on Wednesday hooker Matt Faessler and centre Hunter Paisami were given the green light to turn out for their Queensland side. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) and Seru Uru (knee) have also both been cleared to play for the Reds against the Lions next Wednesday and push their case to return to the Wallabies squad. Larkham, who was part of the triumphant 2001 Australian campaign, said he understood a Wallabies series win was the priority for the country. "Knowing that the Wallabies have to get their preparation right going into that first game - they've got a game against Fiji on Sunday and we play on the Wednesday," said the former great. "And then 10 days later the Wallabies play their first Test against British and Irish Lions, so if some of our players aren't playing for us in preparation for that first Test it's certainly understandable." Bowing out in the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals earlier this month, the Brumbies have a proud record against the Lions - in 2013 they became the first provincial side to post a victory on Australian soil in more than 40 years. Larkham said they had shown vision of that win to the current crop and excitement, and pressure, was building ahead of the July 9 match in Canberra. He said conversations were continuing about players who weren't going to be used in the first Test in Brisbane on July 19 returning to bolster the Brumbies. "We're short in a couple of positions and we are reliant on some of those Wallabies coming back in," he said, with the Brumbies providing 10 squad members and four training partners, with young prop Lington Ieli also joining the camp. "Certainly those players who are training up there, we're reliant on those guys coming back into the squad to play and then hopefully a couple of Test players come back into our team to play in that game as well. "There's a couple of conversations that have to happen with Rugby Australia at the back end of this week when they'll know a little bit more around who they're going to select for the Fiji game. "Then we'll know who we're going to have available for our game against the Lions." Speaking from the Wallabies base in Sydney, Force flyhalf Ben Donaldson said he would happily play in Perth if released from the Test squad. "Oh yeah, I think so ... any chance you get to play against the Lions, you probably take it with both hands," Donaldson said. "I'm hearing it's going to be a huge crowd out at Optus (Stadium) in Perth so it would be extremely exciting, especially off the back of the year we had at the Force this year. "Even to play in front of the fans, just to give them something to cheer about to finish the year, it would have been awesome."
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Blues bank Club World Cup last-16 spot, Kiwis stun Boca
Liam Delap has scored his first goal for Chelsea and Enzo Fernandez had two assists in a 3-0 win over Esperance that helped clinch a round-of-16 berth at the Club World Cup. Tosin Adarabioyo scored a header from a Fernandez free kick in the third minute off first-half added time. Delap scored two minutes later, taking Fernandez's pass with his back to the goal, dribbling around Yassine Meriah and slotting past goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said. It was Delap's first goal for the Blues since the 22-year-old joined from Ipswich Town just before the tournament. Tyrique George scored with virtually the last kick of the game at Lincoln Financial Field with a shot that went in under Said. "I'm pleased with Liam, with him scoring for us, but against Flamengo he had three clear chances to score goals ... he didn't," Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said. "The process quite quick with Liam, and the reason why is because we know him, and he knows us in the way we want to play ... and then it's also because he's a very good player." In Orlando, Jorginho scored in the 87th minute to give Flamengo a 1-1 draw with Los Angeles FC. The Brazilians won Group D with seven points, one ahead of Chelsea, with Esperance (three) and LAFC (one) eliminated. Earlier on Tuesday, Christian Gray scored Auckland City's only goal of the tournament, before a 50-minute suspension caused by lightning in the area, in a 1-1 draw with Boca Juniors. The result in Nashville means the Argentine and South American giants are eliminated, along with the New Zealand amateurs. On a humid day with a game-time temperature of 34C, play was suspended in the 54th minute, the fifth weather delay of the tournament's group stage. Boca went ahead in the 26th when Lautaro Di Lollo's header from a corner kick hit a post and bounced in off goalkeeper Nathan Garrow. Gray levelled in the 52nd minute for the already-eliminated Kiwis with a header from Jerson Lagos's corner kick. "It's been a tough trip. We've had some tough results, but I'm just happy for the team and the boys," Gray said. "I think we deserve it. We got a little bit of respect back, I hope." In Charlotte, Andreas Schjelderup's 13th-minute goal gave Benfica a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich. Bayern's Joshua Kimmich put the ball in the net on 61 minutes, but the German club's goal was disallowed with Harry Kane ruled offside. Portuguese giants Benfica finished top of Group C on seven points, with Bayern (six) second. Boca (two) were third and Auckland City (one), outscored 17-1 in the tournament, fourth. With Reuters. Liam Delap has scored his first goal for Chelsea and Enzo Fernandez had two assists in a 3-0 win over Esperance that helped clinch a round-of-16 berth at the Club World Cup. Tosin Adarabioyo scored a header from a Fernandez free kick in the third minute off first-half added time. Delap scored two minutes later, taking Fernandez's pass with his back to the goal, dribbling around Yassine Meriah and slotting past goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said. It was Delap's first goal for the Blues since the 22-year-old joined from Ipswich Town just before the tournament. Tyrique George scored with virtually the last kick of the game at Lincoln Financial Field with a shot that went in under Said. "I'm pleased with Liam, with him scoring for us, but against Flamengo he had three clear chances to score goals ... he didn't," Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said. "The process quite quick with Liam, and the reason why is because we know him, and he knows us in the way we want to play ... and then it's also because he's a very good player." In Orlando, Jorginho scored in the 87th minute to give Flamengo a 1-1 draw with Los Angeles FC. The Brazilians won Group D with seven points, one ahead of Chelsea, with Esperance (three) and LAFC (one) eliminated. Earlier on Tuesday, Christian Gray scored Auckland City's only goal of the tournament, before a 50-minute suspension caused by lightning in the area, in a 1-1 draw with Boca Juniors. The result in Nashville means the Argentine and South American giants are eliminated, along with the New Zealand amateurs. On a humid day with a game-time temperature of 34C, play was suspended in the 54th minute, the fifth weather delay of the tournament's group stage. Boca went ahead in the 26th when Lautaro Di Lollo's header from a corner kick hit a post and bounced in off goalkeeper Nathan Garrow. Gray levelled in the 52nd minute for the already-eliminated Kiwis with a header from Jerson Lagos's corner kick. "It's been a tough trip. We've had some tough results, but I'm just happy for the team and the boys," Gray said. "I think we deserve it. We got a little bit of respect back, I hope." In Charlotte, Andreas Schjelderup's 13th-minute goal gave Benfica a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich. Bayern's Joshua Kimmich put the ball in the net on 61 minutes, but the German club's goal was disallowed with Harry Kane ruled offside. Portuguese giants Benfica finished top of Group C on seven points, with Bayern (six) second. Boca (two) were third and Auckland City (one), outscored 17-1 in the tournament, fourth. With Reuters. Liam Delap has scored his first goal for Chelsea and Enzo Fernandez had two assists in a 3-0 win over Esperance that helped clinch a round-of-16 berth at the Club World Cup. Tosin Adarabioyo scored a header from a Fernandez free kick in the third minute off first-half added time. Delap scored two minutes later, taking Fernandez's pass with his back to the goal, dribbling around Yassine Meriah and slotting past goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said. It was Delap's first goal for the Blues since the 22-year-old joined from Ipswich Town just before the tournament. Tyrique George scored with virtually the last kick of the game at Lincoln Financial Field with a shot that went in under Said. "I'm pleased with Liam, with him scoring for us, but against Flamengo he had three clear chances to score goals ... he didn't," Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said. "The process quite quick with Liam, and the reason why is because we know him, and he knows us in the way we want to play ... and then it's also because he's a very good player." In Orlando, Jorginho scored in the 87th minute to give Flamengo a 1-1 draw with Los Angeles FC. The Brazilians won Group D with seven points, one ahead of Chelsea, with Esperance (three) and LAFC (one) eliminated. Earlier on Tuesday, Christian Gray scored Auckland City's only goal of the tournament, before a 50-minute suspension caused by lightning in the area, in a 1-1 draw with Boca Juniors. The result in Nashville means the Argentine and South American giants are eliminated, along with the New Zealand amateurs. On a humid day with a game-time temperature of 34C, play was suspended in the 54th minute, the fifth weather delay of the tournament's group stage. Boca went ahead in the 26th when Lautaro Di Lollo's header from a corner kick hit a post and bounced in off goalkeeper Nathan Garrow. Gray levelled in the 52nd minute for the already-eliminated Kiwis with a header from Jerson Lagos's corner kick. "It's been a tough trip. We've had some tough results, but I'm just happy for the team and the boys," Gray said. "I think we deserve it. We got a little bit of respect back, I hope." In Charlotte, Andreas Schjelderup's 13th-minute goal gave Benfica a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich. Bayern's Joshua Kimmich put the ball in the net on 61 minutes, but the German club's goal was disallowed with Harry Kane ruled offside. Portuguese giants Benfica finished top of Group C on seven points, with Bayern (six) second. Boca (two) were third and Auckland City (one), outscored 17-1 in the tournament, fourth. With Reuters.
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Brother v brother as Lions brace for tough Force battle
Brotherly bragging rights will go on the line when the British & Irish Lions kick off their Australian tour against the Western Force at Optus Stadium. The Lions arrived in Australia licking their wounds after suffering a shock 28-24 loss to Argentina in Dublin last weekend. Irish scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park (glute) and winger Hugo Keenan (calf) joined the Lions camp under injury clouds and are in doubt to take on the Force. The on-field rivalry is set to be fierce on Saturday as the Force, powered by Wallabies such as Nic White, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson and Darcy Swain attempt to inflict an early psychological blow on the Lions. There will also be rivalry off the field, with Lions assistant coach Andrew Goodman keen to get one over his brother Chris, who works at the Force as their general manager of rugby. "Yeah, a bit of added spice there," Andrew said after Lions training on Wednesday. "It's been great to catch up with him and his family, and I've got my older brother over as well, so a bit of a family occasion for us. "My nephews were asking who they reckon grandma is going to be supporting, so I'd say she'd have both (colours) on." Andrew revealed it's not the first time the brothers have gone head to head, with the Force taking on an Emerging Ireland side late last year. "I was helping out with Emerging Ireland, so we had a little battle there," he said. "We got up in that one, so it's 1-0 at the moment. "This will be the second one in a number of months, so there's always some good banter that goes on. "I obviously keep a good eye on the Force, because I'm wanting them to do well during the Super Rugby season." Lions head coach Andy Farrell has forecast making widespread changes for the game as he looks to find the right combinations among his 38-man squad. Goodman said it was easy to identify the areas his team struggled with against Argentina. "Turnovers. There were a lot of turnovers, a lot of forced offloads," Goodman said. "We threw five intercept passes, just from not sighting a target. "If we can get more cohesion with our attack in terms of finishing our last pass, we will see an improved effort. "When there's four countries coming together, there are going to be little combinations that you need to build, and it can take time. "But it's not an excuse, just a reality, and something we're looking to get better and better with every time we go on the training track." The Lions beat the Force 69-17 when they last toured Australia in 2013. Brotherly bragging rights will go on the line when the British & Irish Lions kick off their Australian tour against the Western Force at Optus Stadium. The Lions arrived in Australia licking their wounds after suffering a shock 28-24 loss to Argentina in Dublin last weekend. Irish scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park (glute) and winger Hugo Keenan (calf) joined the Lions camp under injury clouds and are in doubt to take on the Force. The on-field rivalry is set to be fierce on Saturday as the Force, powered by Wallabies such as Nic White, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson and Darcy Swain attempt to inflict an early psychological blow on the Lions. There will also be rivalry off the field, with Lions assistant coach Andrew Goodman keen to get one over his brother Chris, who works at the Force as their general manager of rugby. "Yeah, a bit of added spice there," Andrew said after Lions training on Wednesday. "It's been great to catch up with him and his family, and I've got my older brother over as well, so a bit of a family occasion for us. "My nephews were asking who they reckon grandma is going to be supporting, so I'd say she'd have both (colours) on." Andrew revealed it's not the first time the brothers have gone head to head, with the Force taking on an Emerging Ireland side late last year. "I was helping out with Emerging Ireland, so we had a little battle there," he said. "We got up in that one, so it's 1-0 at the moment. "This will be the second one in a number of months, so there's always some good banter that goes on. "I obviously keep a good eye on the Force, because I'm wanting them to do well during the Super Rugby season." Lions head coach Andy Farrell has forecast making widespread changes for the game as he looks to find the right combinations among his 38-man squad. Goodman said it was easy to identify the areas his team struggled with against Argentina. "Turnovers. There were a lot of turnovers, a lot of forced offloads," Goodman said. "We threw five intercept passes, just from not sighting a target. "If we can get more cohesion with our attack in terms of finishing our last pass, we will see an improved effort. "When there's four countries coming together, there are going to be little combinations that you need to build, and it can take time. "But it's not an excuse, just a reality, and something we're looking to get better and better with every time we go on the training track." The Lions beat the Force 69-17 when they last toured Australia in 2013. Brotherly bragging rights will go on the line when the British & Irish Lions kick off their Australian tour against the Western Force at Optus Stadium. The Lions arrived in Australia licking their wounds after suffering a shock 28-24 loss to Argentina in Dublin last weekend. Irish scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park (glute) and winger Hugo Keenan (calf) joined the Lions camp under injury clouds and are in doubt to take on the Force. The on-field rivalry is set to be fierce on Saturday as the Force, powered by Wallabies such as Nic White, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson and Darcy Swain attempt to inflict an early psychological blow on the Lions. There will also be rivalry off the field, with Lions assistant coach Andrew Goodman keen to get one over his brother Chris, who works at the Force as their general manager of rugby. "Yeah, a bit of added spice there," Andrew said after Lions training on Wednesday. "It's been great to catch up with him and his family, and I've got my older brother over as well, so a bit of a family occasion for us. "My nephews were asking who they reckon grandma is going to be supporting, so I'd say she'd have both (colours) on." Andrew revealed it's not the first time the brothers have gone head to head, with the Force taking on an Emerging Ireland side late last year. "I was helping out with Emerging Ireland, so we had a little battle there," he said. "We got up in that one, so it's 1-0 at the moment. "This will be the second one in a number of months, so there's always some good banter that goes on. "I obviously keep a good eye on the Force, because I'm wanting them to do well during the Super Rugby season." Lions head coach Andy Farrell has forecast making widespread changes for the game as he looks to find the right combinations among his 38-man squad. Goodman said it was easy to identify the areas his team struggled with against Argentina. "Turnovers. There were a lot of turnovers, a lot of forced offloads," Goodman said. "We threw five intercept passes, just from not sighting a target. "If we can get more cohesion with our attack in terms of finishing our last pass, we will see an improved effort. "When there's four countries coming together, there are going to be little combinations that you need to build, and it can take time. "But it's not an excuse, just a reality, and something we're looking to get better and better with every time we go on the training track." The Lions beat the Force 69-17 when they last toured Australia in 2013.
