Club World Cup: Auckland City hold on for shock draw with Boca Juniors while Benfica top Bayern | Club World Cup 2025
It might not have been the shot heard around the world but it was a goal that reverberated 13,000km away when Auckland City scored to draw 1-1 with Boca Juniors at the Club World Cup.
Christian Gray, a trainee teacher at Mt. Roskill Intermediate School in Auckland, rose to meet the corner of Jerson Lagos, a barber, and headed in the equaliser as the mostly-amateur team from New Zealand held Diego Maradona’s famous old club to a draw.
Auckland lost 10-0 to Bayern Munich and 6-0 to Benfica in their first two matches, leading to questions over Fifa’s decision to allow a team of part-timers from Oceania, its smallest confederation, to compete with the professional superstars of world football.
Even Auckland City’s local paper, the New Zealand Herald, joined the critics, suggesting the team had “damaged Auckland City FC’s proud 20-year legacy” in Fifa events.
“It’s been a trying few weeks,” the Herald reported after two defeats. “In the past, Auckland City have been renowned for punching above their weight on the global stage, while usually having a couple of outstanding individuals. That hasn’t quite been the case here.”
But Auckland City left their best to last, producing an outstanding performance to the satisfaction of Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who was among the crowd at the match in Nashville.
“It’s been a tough trip, you know, we’ve had some tough results but just happy for the team,” Gray said. “I think we deserve it. We got a little bit of respect back I hope. We rely on volunteers, we don’t have a lot of money so I’m just happy that they’re happy.”
Radio New Zealand described the draw with Boca Juniors as “stunning.”
“Thanks to Gray’s heroics and some incredibly committed defence, Auckland City managed to pull off a result that will reverberate strongly around the football world,” RNZ said.
The New Zealand Herald branded it “remarkable” and “famous”.
“The squad of real estate agents, teachers, sales reps, tradesmen and students would have hoped they could make a mark on the world stage while knowing it was probably impossible,” the newspaper wrote. “But they have done it – against massive odds.
“Anyone around the football world coming across this result will be rubbing their eyes in disbelief. But it’s true. It’s all true.”
The Herald said Auckland City “will leave the tournament on a bit of a high, knowing that the painful journey has been worthwhile”.
Television New Zealand said Auckland City had been “humiliated” in its first two matches at the World Cup but their performance on Tuesday was “heroic”.
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It’s unlikely a story of the same magnitude will be written in future. From now on Oceania – which includes the likes of New Zealand, Fiji and the Solomon Islands – ill be represented by a professional team.
Benfica 1-0 Bayern Munich
Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup struck in the first half to seal a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in sweltering heat on Tuesday, sending the Portuguese side to the top of Group C at the Club World Cup.
After securing their first-ever victory over Bayern, Benfica will face Chelsea or Esperance de Tunis in the last 16. Bayern, finishing second, are set to face Group D leaders Flamengo.
Schjelderup broke the deadlock after 13 minutes with a first-time finish off Fredrik Aursnes’ low cross from the right, capitalising on a lapse in Bayern’s backline.
With Bayern already assured of a place in the next round, their rotated lineup lacked urgency. The Germans improved after the break and Joshua Kimmich thought he had equalised, but his effort was ruled out for Harry Kane being offside.
