Auckland City, arguably the weakest club in this year’s Club World Cup, were drawn in the toughest group. It’s not unfair to call a club whose stars are painters, warehouse managers or school teachers weak. But is that the same club that prevented Argentina’s famous club Boca Juniors from reaching the round of sixteen of the Club World Cup?
Auckland City conceded 16 goals in their first two matches in the Club World Cup. After conceding 10 goals against Bayern Munich, they conceded another 6 goals against Benfica. Boca Juniors were also ready to win by a big margin. After losing one of the first two matches and drawing the other, that was all that was left for the Argentine club to do. But it was Auckland’s day.
They held Argentina’s traditional club Boca Juniors to a 1-1 draw. And that’s where the Argentine club got burned. They left the Club World Cup with only 2 points from Group C. Boca Juniors fell behind in the 26th minute of the match due to an own goal. And after the break, Auckland City equalized by heading a corner in the 52nd minute, defender Christian Thomas Gray, who is a school teacher by profession, made the crowd cheer.
Boca had 74 percent possession throughout the match and had 41 shots on target, but they could only score 1 goal. On the other hand, Auckland City, who had 26 percent possession, managed 1 goal on target, having 2 shots on target from 3 shots.
After the equalizer, the match was stopped for about 40 minutes due to bad weather. However, even after the game started, Boca Juniors had to be disappointed by Auckland. However, both teams have been eliminated from this group. Portugal’s Benfica and Germany’s Bayern Munich have made it to the last 16.
FAQ
What happened between Boca Juniors and Auckland City?
Boca Juniors suffered a shock defeat to Auckland City, ending their hopes of qualifying for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Where did the match take place?
The match was played as part of the Club World Cup qualifying rounds, though the exact location may vary depending on the format.
Why is this result considered an upset?
Boca Juniors is a historic South American club with multiple Copa Libertadores titles, while Auckland City is a semi-professional team from New Zealand. The result was unexpected.
What does this loss mean for Boca Juniors?
The loss ends Boca’s dream of participating in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, a major blow to the team and its fans.
How did Auckland City manage to defeat Boca Juniors?
Auckland City showed solid organization, strong defense, and took their chances well. Boca struggled to break them down and lacked finishing quality.
What happens next for Boca Juniors?
Boca will return to focus on domestic competitions and the Copa Libertadores, aiming to rebuild and qualify for future Club World Cups.
