Auckland underdogs claim unlikely draw against Argentine stars
Christian Gray, who spends his workdays as a teacher at Mt Roskill Intermediate School, struck the equaliser in the 52nd minute after Auckland City had fallen behind to an own goal.
The 28-year-old climbed high to connect with Jerson Lagos' perfect corner kick, heading home and stunning the 35-time Argentine champions at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
That was not the only drama.
Shortly after Gray scored, the game was halted due to torrential rain and lightning strikes.
When play resumed after half an hour, Boca looked to have taken the lead through Miguel Merentiel, only to be denied when VAR spotted a handball by Kevin Zenon.
Gray played down his heroics after the game but acknowledged scoring a goal on such a stage was a "dream moment".
'I don't love the spotlight. I'll leave that to the other boys, but, yeah, a lot of emotions,' Gray told DAZN
Auckland City were humbled 10-0 by German giants Bayern Munich in their opening game, and followed that with a 6-0 loss to Benfica.
'We've had some tough results, but I'm just happy for the team and the boys — I think we deserve it,' Gray said.
'We've got a little bit of respect.'
Auckland City coach Paul Posa said the point for a draw represented a moral victory for the minnows.
"You can't begin to explain the odds that we're up against," Posa said.
"Our club is tiny with the hugest heart. We got something today from the tournament, which was a just reward for everybody that's been working behind the scenes."
Earlier, it looked like yesterday's match was progressing according to virtually all predictions when Boca took the lead through an own goal when a cross by Lautaro Di Lollo unluckily ricocheted off goalkeeper Nathan Garrow and into the goal.
Boca came into the game having drawn against Portuguese club Benfica and lost against Bayern Munich and would have felt confident of a big win over the unfancied and semi-professional Aucklanders.
They required a 7-0 win to overturn Benfica's goal difference advantage, and given Auckland City had conceded 16 goals in their two games, it was certainly on the cards.
However, 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.
Already in the spotlight thanks to their 10-0 opening loss to Bayern, Auckland City's very presence was casting some serious doubt over the already somewhat flimsy legitimacy of the tournament.
Therefore, it was fitting that Fifa president Gianni Infantino was on hand to witness the heroics, the result certain to be highlighted by the game's powerful global governing body to justify the exorbitant amount of money they have spent on the Club World Cup.
It ended the campaigns for both Auckland City and Boca Juniors.
Benfica beat Bayern Munich 1-0 but both those teams progress from Group C to the next round.
In the late round, goals from Tosin Adarabioyo, Liam Delap and Tyrique George helped Chelsea's second-string side secure a place in the round of 16 with a 3-0 win over Esperance de Tunis.
Group D winners Flamengo were held 1-1 by Los Angeles FC to finish on seven points, one ahead of Chelsea. Esperance finished third with three points while LA FC were bottom with one point.
Chelsea next face Group C winners Benfica, while Flamengo take on Bayern Munich, Group C runners-up, in Miami.
— RNZ/Reuters/APL
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