Half time City down 0-1 from a Di Maria penalty. City are playing a 5-4-1 and it seems to be working so far. Benfica 18 shots, 10 on target this half. City 1 shot. Would be cool if they can hold it to this score.
A shame for ACFC that the score blew out in the end. Tiredness in the end. I feel for Zhou who got subbed off for concussion. He was having a great game.
0-5. Score blew out in the last 30 mins after City subs came on. Quite one sided but at least they kept the score down. I think the City keeper made around 8 saves. City can rest up a bit now before Boca rip into them.
There's gotta be a Tee Shirt amongst all this? " I played against Bayern Munich, Benifica & Boca Juniors and all I got out of it was this lousy Tee Shirt!"
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
No, there was a goal before halftime, which is before the 50th minute
45th + 8 mins. The last goal was 90th + 8 mins.
Added time blew out the scoreline.
Sounds like the young 20 yr old City keeper Nathan Garrow had a really good game. He would have been nervous on that stage. Some Euro youth scouts may have noticed. Be interesting to see how he goes against Boca
One thing about it is that it wont be allowed to happen again. From what I have read in the European football press FIFA officials are not very happy about Citys performance. There has been loads of negative press about a side losing 0-10. Unfortunately this has reflected badly on the image of NZ football and also Oceania football. There have even been calls to review Oceania's automatic one place World Cup slot. There is a lot of politics and lobbying in pro football. Oceania is a soft target with few friends. Citys poor performances have been damaging
0-1 to Boca at halftime. 19 shots Boca to 2 City. Similar to Citys last game where they threw everyone in front of the goal. They will probably get over run second half as their stamina fades. Pros vs amatuers. The Boca crowd are amazing....huge support!
They had the cash and they sent their worst squad ever. Not 100% sure what happened witht he coaching, but the outcome wasn't good.
I'm surprised Gianni didn't insist that the roster was strengthened.
Or they were loyal to the players that qualified the club for the tournament. ACFC have grown in every game. Yes, the gap is huge but what did anyone expect? Good on them for learning from each match and improving. I wouldn't bother reading what the European (British) press have to say, they are against the whole thing as a concept.....looking down their noses.....this tournament has been fantastic. Yes, OFC would be better off if AFC or the Phoenix qualified, but that's not ACFC's problem.
They had the cash and they sent their worst squad ever. Not 100% sure what happened witht he coaching, but the outcome wasn't good.
I'm surprised Gianni didn't insist that the roster was strengthened.
Or they were loyal to the players that qualified the club for the tournament. ACFC have grown in every game. Yes, the gap is huge but what did anyone expect? Good on them for learning from each match and improving. I wouldn't bother reading what the European (British) press have to say, they are against the whole thing as a concept.....looking down their noses.....this tournament has been fantastic. Yes, OFC would be better off if AFC or the Phoenix qualified, but that's not ACFC's problem.
FIFA made a video showcasing the player being real estate agents etc What do expect to happen if they play against one of the top teams from Europe?
While the tournament offers prize money tiers based on performance, Auckland City, representing one of football’s smallest confederations, will receive the lowest payout - a fraction of the $3.58 million meant for Oceania.
Even that amount, Mitchell noted, is still subject to ongoing negotiations between the club and New Zealand Football.
While the tournament offers prize money tiers based on performance, Auckland City, representing one of football’s smallest confederations, will receive the lowest payout - a fraction of the $3.58 million meant for Oceania.
Even that amount, Mitchell noted, is still subject to ongoing negotiations between the club and New Zealand Football.
USD 3.58 million plus now an extra USD 1 million for todays draw (https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/club-world-cup/usa-2025/articles/record-prize-money-solidarity) that might help the negotiations
Sounds like young Garrow in goal had another quality game. If Oluwayemi does leave the Nix on a mutual perhaps they should try sign Garrow to push AKH.
Apart from the guys at ACFC, no other players at the CWC developed by NZ clubs?
But with the money from the drawn match, the club should now receive about US$4.48 million, or NZ$7.6 million based on current exchange rates.
Prizemoney earned by Auckland City will be split with NZ Football and other clubs under an agreement for FIFA Club World Cup income to be shared.
Auckland City and NZ Football have been in a formal mediation process to finalise how the money would be shared, but no outcome has been announced.
Meanwhile, New Zealand clubs who developed players who played at the tournament will also benefit, as FIFA have confirmed US$250 million (NZ$416 million) will go into a ‘solidarity payment’ fund.
This is similar to the process following the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup when 30 New Zealand clubs shared development money of NZ$260,000 based on which Ferns they had helped develop.
