FIFA Club World Cup: Auckland City Earns Historic 1-1 Draw Against Boca Juniors

Auckland City secures a famous 1-1 draw against Boca Juniors in the FIFA Club World Cup, despite Boca's early exit from the tournament.

Auckland City secured a notable 1-1 draw against Boca Juniors in the FIFA Club World Cup, thanks to Christian Gray's second-half header. This result ended Auckland City's eight-match losing streak in the competition. Boca Juniors had a tough task ahead, needing to win by seven clear goals to progress to the knockouts, and they indeed started strong.

The match saw Boca Juniors take the lead through an own goal by Auckland City's Nathan Garrow in the 26th minute. However, Christian Gray's header in the 52nd minute leveled the score for Auckland City. Despite creating several chances, Boca Juniors couldn't find the back of the net again, and the draw ultimately saw both teams bow out of the tournament.

Match Details:

Score: Auckland City 1, Boca Juniors 1

Venue: Geodis Park, Nashville, USA

Goals:

Nathan Garrow (own goal): 26th minute (Boca Juniors 1-0 Auckland City)

Christian Gray: 52nd minute (Auckland City 1-1 Boca Juniors)

Tournament Standing:

• Bayern Munich: 1st place (6 points)
• Benfica: 2nd place (4 points)
• Boca Juniors: 3rd place (1 point)
• Auckland City: 4th place (0 points)

Boca Juniors showed clear intent early on but were denied the opening goal, with Luis Advíncula's curling shot hitting the roof of the net after Nathan Garrow's fumble.

The team eventually got the goal they deserved midway through the first half when Lautaro Di Lollo's header rebounded off the post and into the net off Garrow, giving Boca Juniors the lead they needed to keep pressure on Benfica.

A draw between @AucklandCity_FC and @BocaJrsOficial to close out Group C. 🤝

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 24, 2025

Boca Juniors dominated the first half, but despite their momentum, they struggled to break down Auckland City's defense. The Argentine side hit the woodwork twice in a five-minute span before halftime, with Carlos Palacios's 30-yard shot crashing off the post and Miguel Merentiel's header rebounding off the crossbar. Despite these missed opportunities, Boca Juniors took the lead into the break thanks to an own goal by Auckland City's Nathan Garrow.

Boca Juniors dominated the first half, but despite Bayern and Benfica's struggles against them, they found Auckland City's amateur side surprisingly resilient.

Their luck was cruel, with the woodwork denying them twice in a five-minute span before halftime: Carlos Palacios's 30-yard shot hit the post, and shortly after, Miguel Merentiel's header struck the crossbar.

Auckland City, despite struggling to get possession throughout the tournament, will cherish the memory of the 2025 Club World Cup after scoring a notable equalizer. The goal came from a simple yet effective corner kick by Jerson Esteban Lagos Giraldo, which Christian Gray headed home, sparking joyous celebrations among the New Zealand fans.

A lengthy weather delay interrupted the second half, but upon resumption, Boca Juniors thought they'd taken the lead when Miguel Merentiel scored from Kevin Zenon's cutback. However, the goal was disallowed due to Zenon's handball in the buildup. The result ultimately didn't matter, as Boca Juniors had already been eliminated from the tournament following Benfica's win over Bayern, which may have contributed to their lack of urgency in finding a winning goal.

How it ends in #FIFACWC Group C. 🔢

— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 24, 2025

Auckland City goalkeeper Nathan Garrow made crucial saves in the final stages to secure a notable draw. The result allows the team to hold their heads high as they return to their full-time careers. In contrast, Boca Juniors exit the tournament with a disappointing seven-match winless run, leaving them with a bitter taste.