Club World Cup: Auckland City, an amateur team, stun Argentinian giants that once featured Diego Maradona, Carlos Tevez
Auckland City's Adam Mitchell (left) and Jerson Lagos celebrate after the Club World Cup Group C draw against Boca Juniors (Image via AP/George Walker IV)
In one of the most astonishing results at the 2025 Club World Cup, and in football altogether, Auckland City, a side ranked 4,971st in the world by Opta, held South American side Boca Juniors, ranked 152 on the planet, to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday.
Auckland, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament and already eliminated after two heavy defeats - a 6-0 thumping by Benfica and a 10-0 demolition by German giants Bayern Munich, produced a defiant display to deny Argentina's six-time Copa Libertadores winners a spot in the knockout stages. Boca needed a win to stand a chance of progressing.
Despite being out-shot 40 to 4 and conceding nearly 70% possession, Auckland's grit and determination paid off.
Stats of Auckland City vs Boca Juniors
1 - 1 (Goals)
0.19 - 2.38 (xG)
3 - 40 (Shots)
2 - 9 (Shots on Target)
26% - 74% (Possession)
To put the scale of the upset into perspective, this was the equivalent of Scottish third-tier side Cove Rangers (ranked 4,844th) drawing with Juventus (ranked 25th), as per Opta.
Boca went ahead in the 26th minute after Lautaro Di Lollo's header hit the post and ricocheted in off Auckland goalkeeper Nathan Garrow for an unfortunate own goal. But Garrow recovered impressively, pulling off a series of second-half saves to preserve the scoreline.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Are you from Bangladesh? The Prices of Solar Panels Might Surprise You
Solar Panels | Search Ads
Get Info
Undo
Auckland struck back in the 52nd minute when Christian Gray powered in a header from Jerson Lagos' corner, which was incidentally the team's first goal of the tournament.
Poll
Was Auckland City's draw against Boca Juniors the biggest upset in Club World Cup history?
Yes, definitely!
No, there have been bigger upsets.
'It's been a tough trip, we've had some tough results but I'm just happy for the team and the boys, I think we deserve it, we got a little bit of respect back I hope,' said goal scorer Gray to
DAZN
.
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Indiana Fever waive DeWanna Bonner, re-sign Aari McDonald
As the Club World Cup nears knockout rounds, South American fans, particularly Boca Juniors and Palmeiras supporters, have electrified venues like Miami's Hard Rock Stadium with their passionate displays. Their fervor has garnered admiration from European coaches, highlighting a cultural shift in soccer fandom. Upcoming matches, especially the Palmeiras vs. Botafogo rivalry, promise intense competition and excitement.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Borussia Dortmund vs Ulsan HD LIVE streaming info: Where to watch FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match? Predicted lineups
Borussia Dortmund and Ulsan HD face off against each other in their final group stage in the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup on Wednesday. While the German giant is placed second behind Fluminense in the standings, Ulsan is yet to open its account in the tournament. LIVE STREAMING INFO When is the Borussia Dortmund vs Ulsan HD FIFA Club World Cup match? The Borussia Dortmund vs Ulsan HD FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match will kick off at 3 pm local time on Wednesday, June 25 (12:30 am IST on June 26, Thursday) at the TQL Stadium, Cincinnati. Where to watch the Borussia Dortmund vs Ulsan HD FIFA Club World Cup match LIVE? The Borussia Dortmund vs Ulsan HD FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match will not be telecast anywhere in India. The match will be live-streamed on the DAZN website. PREDICTED LINEUPS Borussia Dortmund: Kobel (gk), Bensebaini, Anton, Sule, Svensson, Gross, Nmecha, Couto, Bellingham, Guirassy, Brandt Ulsan HD: Cho (gk), Ludwigson, Lee, Kim, Trojak, Kang, Lee, Bojanic, Ko, Farias, Um SQUADS Borussia Dortmund Goalkeepers: Gregor Kobel, Silas Ostrzinski, Alexander Meyer Defenders: Yan Couto, Waldemar Anton, Ramy Bensebaini, Daniel Svensson, Niklas Sule, Julian Ryerson, Filippo Mane, Soumaila Coulibaly, Elias Benkara Midfielders: Giovanni Reyna, Felix Nmecha, Julian Brandt, Pascal Gross, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marcel Sabitzer, Ayman Azhil, Jobe Bellingham Forwards: Serhou Guirassy, Maximilian Beier, Julien Duranville, Karim Adeyemi, Cole Campbell, Samuele Inacio, Mathis Albert, Jamie Gittens Ulsan HD Goalkeepers: Jo Hyeonwoo, Moon Jungin, Ryu Seongmin Defenders: Kang Minwoo, Seo Myunggmuan, Kang Sangwoo, Kim Yonggwon, Yoon Jonggyu, Park Minseo, Lee Jaeik, Milosz Trojak, Choi Seokhyun Midfielders: Jung Wooyoung, Darijan Bojanic, Ko Seung-beom, Kim Minwoo, Um Wonsang, Lee Jinhyun, Lee Huigyun, Gustav Ludwigson, Kim Minhyeok, Lee Chung-yong, Yoon Jaeseok, Matias Lacava, Park Sangjun, Back Inwoo, Erick Farias Forwards: Heo Yool, Yago Cariello
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Billionaire Brighton owner Tony Bloom buys stake in Scottish club Hearts
Brighton football club's billionaire owner, Tony Bloom, invested in Heart of Midlothian of the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday, aiming to revive another unheralded team. The former professional poker player is seen as one of the smartest investors in European football, helping lift his hometown club Brighton, and current Belgian champion Union Saint-Gilloise to unexpected success with data-driven research and management. Hearts said Bloom paid 9.86 million pounds ($13.4 million) for 'a 29% stake in the club in non-voting shares.' The size of Bloom's minority stake should be within the UEFA-set threshold to comply with rules designed to protect the integrity of European competitions when clubs in shared ownership both qualify. ALSO READ: Ronaldo's Saudi club Al Nassr without a coach as Pioli leaves UEFA required Bloom to reduce his stake and decision-making influence at Union in 2023 when the club from Brussels joined Brighton in qualifying for the second-tier Europa League. Union won its first Belgian league title in 90 years this season and will make its debut in the Champions League main phase. Brighton missed qualifying for UEFA competitions by one place finishing eighth in the Premier League. Hearts played in the third-tier Conference League last season but did not qualify for any European competition next season after placing seventh in the Scottish league. The Edinburgh club won the last of its four titles in 1960 in a league now monopolized by Glasgow rivals Celtic and Rangers. They have combined to win the last 40 titles. 'I am absolutely thrilled to be investing in Hearts,' Bloom said in a club statement. 'I firmly believe in the club's ability to disrupt the pattern of domination of Scottish football, which has been in place for far too long.' Hearts has been runner-up five times since 1960, most famously in 1986 after leading the standings for months. Hearts lost on the last day by conceding two late goals at Dundee and was overtaken by Celtic.
