Needing to win by seven clear goals to have any chance of progressing to the knockouts, it was little surprise to see Boca Juniors fly out of the traps.
Although their early intent was there for all to see, it wasn’t rewarded with the opening goal, with Luis Advincula coming the closest of anyone in a yellow shirt when Nathan Garrow fumbled his curling effort onto the roof of the net.
The goal they deserved duly arrived midway through the first half, and although there was an element of fortune to it as Lautaro Di Lollo’s header crashed back off the post and into the net off Garrow, it was the goal they needed to keep pressure on Benfica.
The momentum was unsurprisingly with Boca throughout the first half, but while Bayern and Benfica had no issues breaking them down, Boca were struggling to find a way through the amateur side from New Zealand. Such was their luck, they were denied twice by the woodwork in a five-minute spell before the break.
Carlos Palacios was the first to shake the frame of the goal when his curling 30-yard effort crashed back off the post, before just minutes later, Miguel Merentiel headed against the crossbar.
Auckland City have barely had a kick throughout the tournament, but the 2025 CWC will always be remembered fondly after they netted a famous equaliser.
There was an air of simplicity about how it came around, as Jerson Esteban Lagos Giraldo’s corner was headed home by Gray, who’s a student teacher, to spark jubilant scenes among the Kiwis.
A lengthy weather delay disrupted the flow of the second half, but when the game did resume, Boca thought they’d taken an instant lead when Merentiel swept home Kevin Zenon’s cutback, but the creator-in-chief had handled the ball in the buildup.
The result of this game was ultimately immaterial as Boca knew they were already going home thanks to Benfica’s win over Bayern, and that perhaps explained their distinct lack of endeavour to find a winning goal.
Garrow made a couple of fine stops in the closing stages to see out a famous draw for Auckland City, whose players will now return to their full-time careers with their heads held high.
The feeling will be much different for Boca Juniors, who crash out of the tournament on the back of a seven-match winless run.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Nathan Garrow (Auckland City)
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