Latest news with #AdamMitchell
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Club World Cup: Auckland City, an amateur team, stun Argentinian giants that once featured Diego Maradona, Carlos Tevez
Auckland City's Adam Mitchell (left) and Jerson Lagos celebrate after the Club World Cup Group C draw against Boca Juniors (Image via AP/George Walker IV) In one of the most astonishing results at the 2025 Club World Cup, and in football altogether, Auckland City, a side ranked 4,971st in the world by Opta, held South American side Boca Juniors, ranked 152 on the planet, to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday. Auckland, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament and already eliminated after two heavy defeats - a 6-0 thumping by Benfica and a 10-0 demolition by German giants Bayern Munich, produced a defiant display to deny Argentina's six-time Copa Libertadores winners a spot in the knockout stages. Boca needed a win to stand a chance of progressing. Despite being out-shot 40 to 4 and conceding nearly 70% possession, Auckland's grit and determination paid off. Stats of Auckland City vs Boca Juniors 1 - 1 (Goals) 0.19 - 2.38 (xG) 3 - 40 (Shots) 2 - 9 (Shots on Target) 26% - 74% (Possession) To put the scale of the upset into perspective, this was the equivalent of Scottish third-tier side Cove Rangers (ranked 4,844th) drawing with Juventus (ranked 25th), as per Opta. Boca went ahead in the 26th minute after Lautaro Di Lollo's header hit the post and ricocheted in off Auckland goalkeeper Nathan Garrow for an unfortunate own goal. But Garrow recovered impressively, pulling off a series of second-half saves to preserve the scoreline. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Are you from Bangladesh? The Prices of Solar Panels Might Surprise You Solar Panels | Search Ads Get Info Undo Auckland struck back in the 52nd minute when Christian Gray powered in a header from Jerson Lagos' corner, which was incidentally the team's first goal of the tournament. Poll Was Auckland City's draw against Boca Juniors the biggest upset in Club World Cup history? Yes, definitely! No, there have been bigger upsets. 'It's been a tough trip, we've had some tough results but I'm just happy for the team and the boys, I think we deserve it, we got a little bit of respect back I hope,' said goal scorer Gray to DAZN . Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
New York Times
24-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Auckland City 1 Boca Juniors 1 – Amateurs humble Boca with surprise draw to ‘get respect back'
Amateur team Auckland City ended their Club World Cup in remarkable fashion by scoring their first goal and earning their first point with a surprise draw against Boca Juniors, who were also eliminated from the competition. Auckland were beaten 10-0 by Bayern Munich in their opening game leading to questions about whether their presence was warranted at a competition billed as 'the best v the best' by FIFA. Advertisement They then lost 6-0 to Benfica, meaning Boca needed to overturn a seven-goal and three-point deficit to Benfica to reach the knockout stages. But by the time the second-half resumed after a weather break, the Portuguese team had already beaten Bayern in Charlotte, making Boca's progress impossible. Boca had gone 1-0 up in the first half but Christian Gray, a teacher in training who said his 'assignments are piling up' back home, equalised with a header from a corner and said he hoped the result will help Auckland 'get respect back' after a 'tough trip'. Here The Athletic's Jeff Rueter and Jordan Halford break down the action As part of semi-professional Auckland City, most players are bound to find alternative vocations to supplement their playing. For Gray, that means being a teacher in training. On Tuesday, Gray and fellow centre backs Nikko Boxall and Adam Mitchell spent much of their group C finale clearing crosses away from Boca's intended targets. At last, on a 52nd minute corner kick, Gray was given a chance to be a bit more proactive than reactive — and he certainly aced this test. 52′ AUCKLAND CITY SCORE THEIR FIRST GOAL OF THE FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP!!! 🇳🇿 Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #AKLBOC — DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 24, 2025 The story of Auckland City's time in the Club World Cup was largely told in the context of mismatches. Of the 32 teams in the contest, the club from New Zealand were the only side to qualify without full professional status. They qualified for the Club World Cup by lifting the OFC Champions League 12 times in the past 15 seasons. It's a wholly deserved accomplishment for them to make this field. Advertisement However, as their opening games illustrated — in a 10-0 defeat against Bayern Münich and a 6-0 defeat against Benfica — there's an understandable competitive imbalance between Auckland and the rest of Group C. Then again, form and 'on-paper' quality go out the door when a team sets up a set piece during a tournament. Set pieces are viewed as the almighty leveller between heavyweights and underdogs alike. Dead ball situations are now often meticulously curated, a variable for which coaches (and specialised assistant coaches) will solve with painstaking detail. The equation largely relies on clever movement, creating narrow advantages and exploiting any mistake made by an opponent. For a team that has been on the wrong side of mismatches in quality throughout the group stage, it was bound to be a set piece that could bring them a goal. Gray was able to weave in front of Rodrigo Battaglia, a 33-year-old defender whose past employers include Mallorca, Sporting CP and Braga. Having already used his head to make five defensive clearances, the center back was plenty warmed up to make the most of this prodding nod. Minutes later, the game was suspended due to a lightning strike near Geodis Park. Boca fans may have felt this was a damning sign of the end times, or perhaps something even worse: that their well-supported run had been abruptly ended. Jeff Rueter Mere minutes after Auckland City bagged their leveller, lightning forced the game into suspension. For over 40 minutes, Boca and Auckland waited in their dressing rooms as Bayern and Benfica determined Boca's tournament status 420 miles away in Charlotte. By the time Boca's match could resume, it was already determined that they were eliminated, as the European pair had secured their places in the round of 16. Advertisement This wasn't the first time a pair of teams ended up playing what ultimately became a stakes-free group finale. Unlike Monday night's 4-4 free-for-all between Al Ahly and Porto, the weather delay left Group C's games (which had kicked off concurrently) so staggered that the resumption of play was rendered entirely pointless in terms of the standings. It was an incredibly disjointed end to the match, with its lack of flow not helped by the tremendous heat (98F, 36.6C) which necessitated another water break 20 minutes after play resumed. Boca began to rotate out its key players, especially Cavani. They continued to shoot whenever they saw daylight, taking a remarkable 37 attempts with just eight landing on-target. Auckland didn't seem to have much left in the tank either after defending valiantly throughout. The New Zealand side were all too happy to protect the 1-1 scoreline and claim an unexpected point, with Boca's only goal being deemed an own goal. Mercifully, nearly three hours after the initial kickoff, Auckland found its just desserts. A team of amateurs held their resolve and played mighty Boca to a draw. It was a result — and accompanying story — that was well worth their patience, both tactically and waiting in the dressing room. Jeff Rueter Auckland's resistance was proving stubborn in Nashville, much like the first half against Benfica, where it took an Angel Di Maria penalty in stoppage time to open the scoring. Boca were keeping to their end of the bargain, but they were getting the sense it was going to be one of those days in the Tennessee heat. Carlos Palacios was unfortunate to double their lead in the 42nd minute after his vicious, curling effort from range struck the upright. It bounced back off the post into Kyle Garrow, but this time luck was on his side as the Auckland goalkeeper gleefully gathered in the six-yard box. And the woodwork was still shaking just 50 seconds later, as Merentiel's header rattled the crossbar moments after with the 29-year-old cutting a frustrating figure in front of his own supporters. Jordan Halford Amid controversy over ticket prices and low attendances at the Club World Cup, lack of support can never be levelled at the Xeneize. Boca fans travelled in their thousands from Buenos Aires for all three of their fixtures and their famous Azul y Oro colours once again adorned one end of Geodis Park. Advertisement From El Banderazo on Miami Beach to the scenes when Merentiel scored against Bayern in the Hard Rock Stadium, Boca Juniors may not have the best football team on the planet but you would be hard pressed to find better supporters the world over. Boca captain Merentiel claimed after the defeat to Bayern you would find a Boca Juniors fan on the moon, and for all the criticism of Gianni Infantino's newly-fangled tournament, seeing the passion of the South American supporters has brought much-needed fervour to the competition. It is a shame that the team of La Doce, as they are affectionately known, will be going back to Buenos Aires after just three games. Whether the fans stay behind remains to be seen. Jordan Halford
RNZ News
24-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
FIFA Club World Cup live updates: Auckland City v Boca Juniors
Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman gets the better of Auckland City FC's Michael Den Heijer and Adam Mitchell. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / After two very heavy defeats, things don't get much easie for Auckland City FC at the FIFA Club World Cup. On Wednesday, they face Argentine powerhouse Boca Juniors, with the former club of Diego Maradona needing a big win to advance to the round of 16. Kick-off is at 7am NZT. Follow all the action with RNZ's live blog:
Japan Times
20-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Club World Cup is both blessing and curse for amateur club Auckland City
Adam Mitchell knows he is going to lose money this month. The Auckland City defender left his job selling houses in New Zealand to take part in the Club World Cup, where the eventual champion will pocket a staggering $125 million — while his amateur team plays for pride and an appearance fee still under negotiation. "My business runs on a commission basis only," Mitchell said Thursday after his side's humbling 10-0 defeat against European giant Bayern Munich at the expanded Club World Cup. "If I'm not back working, there's no income coming in. But a tournament like this, you have to be willing to make sacrifices and that's what a lot of us have done." The Club World Cup's new, lucrative format has attracted criticism for its schedule congestion at the end of a long European season. Mitchell and his teammates — many of whom work as teachers, delivery drivers, and tradesmen — are effectively paying out of their own pockets for the privilege of competing on this stage. It is not just Mitchell's earnings that are taking a hit. New Zealand's labor laws typically grant around four to five weeks of annual leave per year — most of which, for Auckland's players, was already used up during last year's Oceania qualifying tournament. "The players that went to the qualification for this tournament, well, we played in the Solomon Islands," Mitchell explained. "That was three weeks. "Some people have run out of annual leave. People are kind of in negative days and taking unpaid leave. So, it's nice for people to know the sacrifices we make to be here." While the tournament offers prize money tiers based on performance, Auckland City, representing one of soccer'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. On the pitch, the gulf between part-time amateurs and global superstars was on brutal display. Bayern Munich, ranked among the world's elite, named a starting lineup packed with internationals, showing no mercy en route to a double-digit victory. "Conceding 10 goals isn't a nice feeling,' Mitchell admitted. "But I think we have to realize the caliber of team and caliber of players we were up against. "The fact that they did put their strongest team out and they didn't take the pedal off the metal at all, they just kept going and going and going, which, it's not great for us, but in a way that's a sign of respect." The heavy defeat has not dampened spirits within the Auckland camp. With two more games to play in their group against Benfica and Boca Juniors, Mitchell said he and his teammates are determined to leave their mark. "If you watched the (Bayern) game, you could see we never give up regardless of the scoreline," he said. Back home, Mitchell juggles the demands of a commission-based real estate job with evening training sessions and coaching duties at the club. His typical day starts early, squeezing in gym sessions before work, and ends late at night after training. "It's not ideal for my wife," he joked. "I don't get to see her that often, but she really respects the fact that this is a sacrifice that we have to make, and she also has to make. "(For her) just seeing myself and the whole team on the stage and obviously against the best players in the world, I think it's a really proud moment." Mitchell admits that while the financial hit stings, the exposure could pay off in other ways. "Maybe if someone was watching on TV and they realized I was in the industry, maybe they just want to have a chat and that's the way you can build some rapport," he said. To the critics who have questioned Auckland City's inclusion in a competition of this scale, Mitchell remains unapologetic. "We don't bother too much about critics," he said. "We've earned the right to be here. People have to realize we are semi-professionals, but we do treat training and we treat our club like a professional club, with the resources we have." "We earned the right to be here and we're proud to be here, and we're going to give it all on the pitch."
New Straits Times
19-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Auckland City's Club World Cup participation is a privilege with a price
MIAMI: Adam Mitchell knows he is going to lose money this month. The Auckland City defender left his job selling houses in New Zealand to take part in the Club World Cup, where the eventual champions will pocket a staggering US$125 million — while his semi-professional team plays on for pride and an appearance fee still under negotiation. "My business runs on a commission basis only," Mitchell told Reuters on Thursday after his side's humbling 10-0 defeat to European giants Bayern Munich at the expanded Club World Cup. "If I'm not back working, there's no income coming in. But a tournament like this, you have to be willing to make sacrifices and that's what a lot of us have done." The Club World Cup's new, lucrative format has attracted criticism for its schedule congestion at the end of a long European season. Mitchell and his teammates, many of whom work as teachers, delivery drivers, and tradesmen, are effectively paying out of their own pockets for the privilege of competing on this stage. It is not just Mitchell's earnings that are taking a hit. New Zealand's labour laws typically grant around four to five weeks of annual leave per year — most of which, for Auckland's players, was already used up during last year's Oceania qualifying tournament. "The players that went to the qualification for this tournament, well, we played in the Solomon Islands. That was three weeks," Mitchell explained. "Some people have run out of annual leave. People are kind of in negative days and taking unpaid leave. So, it's nice for people to know the sacrifices we make to be here." 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. NO MERCY On the pitch, the gulf between part-time semi-professionals and global superstars was on brutal display. Bayern Munich, ranked among the world's elite, named a starting 11 packed with internationals, showing no mercy en route to a double-digit victory. "Conceding 10 goals isn't a nice feeling," Mitchell admitted. "But I think we have to realise the calibre of team and calibre of players we were up against. "The fact that they did put their strongest team out and they didn't take the pedal off the metal at all. They just kept going and going and going, which, it's not great for us, but in a way that's a sign of respect." The heavy defeat has not dampened spirits within the Auckland camp. With two more games to play in their group against Benfica and Boca Juniors, Mitchell said he and his teammates are determined to leave their mark. "If you watched the (Bayern) game, you could see we never give up regardless of the scoreline," he said. Back home, Mitchell juggles the demands of a commission-based real estate job with evening training sessions and coaching duties at the club. His typical day starts early, squeezing in gym sessions before work, and ends late at night after training. "It's not ideal for my wife," he joked. "I don't get to see her that often, but she really respects the fact that this is a sacrifice that we have to make and she also has to make. "(For her) just seeing myself and the whole team on the stage and obviously against the best players in the world, I think it's a really proud moment." Mitchell admits that while the financial hit stings, the exposure could pay off in other ways. "Maybe if someone was watching on TV and they realised I was in the industry, maybe they just want to have a chat and that's the way you can build some rapport," he said. To the critics who have questioned the inclusion of Auckland City in a competition of this scale, Mitchell remains unapologetic. "We don't bother too much about critics. We've earned the right to be here. People have to realise we are semi-professionals, but we do treat training and we treat our club like a professional club, with the resources we have," said Mitchell, whose side face Benfica on Friday.
