The football fairytale that came true

Words: ACFC Media

Friday 21 December 2018

Picture: Phototek

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - We mark four years since Auckland City FC became the first team from Oceania in the modern era to win medal at a FIFA World Cup.

It was the football fairytale of the year that had a classic ending. It started with a penalty shoot-out victory over Moghreb Tetouan, the champions of Morocco, before taking out ES Setif - champions of Africa - in a tense quarter-final.

The wee run to the semi-finals and a showdown with South American champions San Lorenzo looked to be a step too far only for the Navy Blues to threaten a major upset when Angel Berlanga's late equaliser sent the game into extra-time.

Emiliano Tade, Auckland City FC's all-time top goalscorer, then spurned a chance to send the New Zealand club into a dream final with Real Madrid only to see his volley hurtle away into the Moroccan night.

It proved a costly miss yet in so many ways the ending to this tale finished in a barely believable way as Ramon Tribulietx's side took a shock early lead in the bronze medal match via Ryan De Vries off a Tade diagonal ball.

Cruz Azul, falling apart off the pitch amid wrangles over player contracts, soon equalised but that could not plaster over the cracks as Sanni Issa - the hero of the first penalty shoot-out against Tetouan - slammed home the winner to create history and a new Navy Blues catchphrase: "Bronze is the new gold".

The world's football media were unanimous that the Oceania champions had played well above expectations as their dream run ended with a 2-1 loss to Argentina's South American champions San Lorenzo in Morocco.

Specialist website Goal.com said the equalising goal from Auckland's Angel Berlanga's "threatened another major upset at the Club World Cup but the Argentines did enough to scrape into the final".

"Mauro Matos' extra-time strike ensured San Lorenzo avoided a colossal upset and booked a final against Real Madrid," they reported, suggesting Auckland City FC's earlier penalty shootout win in the tournament had the Argentine side showing extra time urgency to claim their winner.

"Auckland fought valiantly for a leveller, but the post denied Tim Payne's low drive and their title challenge was over. Still, it was another heroic performance from the semi-pro club, who arrived at Morocco 2014 having lost six of their eight previous Club World Cup games."

Britain's Daily Mail said the result "ended a surprise tournament run by minnows Auckland City".

"Madrid will be the favourites after San Lorenzo needed extra time to get past Auckland's team of part-timers and amateurs who fit their football around day jobs," the Daily Mail continued.

"It would have been the ultimate David vs Goliath story had the Oceania champions advanced to face the Galacticos. A shock seemed possible when Angel Berlanga's second-half goal cancelled out Pablo Barrientos' first-half strike for San Lorenzo. But substitute Mauro Matos netted San Lorenzo's winner in extra time."

Even the Buenos Aires Herald noted the struggles of the Argentine side.

"They suffered a great deal to beat the New Zealand side, and could only seal the victory in injury time," they reported, adding that Auckland's equaliser "put San Lorenzo on the verge of humiliation".

International agency Reuters reported that San Lorenzo needed to work hard "to see off the gallant challenge of Auckland City FC's part-timers".

"The rank outsiders had given San Lorenzo an almighty scare when Angel Berlanga equalised in the 67th minute to cancel out Pablo Barrientos' opener for the Argentines in first-half stoppage time."

Reuters predicted San Lorenzo face "a near-impossible task" in the final against Real Madrid "if today's poor display is anything to go by".

Fellow agency AAP felt Auckland City FC had done the Oceania region proud.

"Regardless of the outcome, Auckland City FC can reflect on a head-turning display in Morocco which featured two sizeable upsets last week, beating Morocco's Moghreb Tetouan on penalties and African champions ES Setif of Algeria 1-0.

"They unfurled another highly-proficient performance today, holding their own in every aspect of quality game, arguably creating the better chances in regulation time.

"Auckland City FC's defence, marshalled by veteran midfielder and captain Ivan Vicelich, once again stood out.

"They frustrated San Lorenzo, who struggled for attacking fluency and conceded their share of fouls, accruing five yellow cards to three in the process."

And another agency, AFP, noted that San Lorenzo gave their number one fan Pope Francis something to celebrate on his 78th birthday by booking their place in the final.

But "the Argentine side needed extra time to see off the hearty challenge of the competition's surprise package Auckland City FC".

THE STATISTICS
We take a snapshot of how the Navy Blues' FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014 unfolded, reliving each match, featuring quotes from former Auckland City FC defender John Irving. 

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP - PLAYOFF
10 December 2014
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
Rabat, Morocco
Attendance: 35, 247.
vs. Mogrheb Tetouan drew 0-0 after extra time
(Auckland City FC won 4-3 on penalties)

The year before Auckland City FC suffered heartbreak losing to Raja Casablanca in the last minute of their playoff after Roy Krishna had scored a stunning equaliser following a catastrophic defensive error. This two hour nailbiter showed the New Zealanders to be more than a match for the hosts in front of 35,247 fans at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

When Tamati Williams saved Moroccan international Ahmed Jahouh's spot kick, the miracle looked alive. Tim Payne, John Irving and Darren White were all on target as the Moroccan's clung on via Zaid Krouch and Senegalese defender Mourtada Fall.

The tension ramped up a notch when goalkeeper Mohamed El Yousfi saved Mario Bilen's penalty to leave the scores level at 3-3. But when Mohamed Khallati's penalty slammed into Williams' post, up stepped Sanni Issa to slot home a brilliant finish to hand the match to the Navy Blues 4-3 on penalties.

AUCKLAND CITY FC: 1. Tamati WILLIAMS (GK), 3. Takuya IWATA, 4. Mario BILEN, 5. Angel BERLANGA, 6. John IRVING, 8. Tim PAYNE, 10. Ryan DE VRIES, 15. Ivan VICELICH (c), 17. Marko DORDEVIC, 20. Emiliano TADE (9. Darren WHITE 68'), 25. Fabrizio TAVANO (14. Sanni ISSA 107').

SUBS NOT USED: 2. Simon ARMS, 7. James PRITCHETT, 11. Cam LINDSAY, 19. David BROWNE, 22. Andrew MILNE, 23. Sam BURFOOT, 18. Louis CAUNTER (GK), 24. Jacob SPOONLEY (GK).

INJURED: 13. Joao MOREIRA, 16. Daewook KIM.

COACH: Ramon TRIBULIETX

FIFA PLAYER OF THE MATCH: 15. Ivan VICELICH.

MATCH REPORT: Click here. 

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP - QUARTER FINAL
13 December 2014
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
Rabat, Morocco
Attendance: 22,153
v. ES Setif won 1-0 (John IRVING 52')

Three days after winning the Play-off for the Quarter-Finals, Auckland City won their second FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014 match, sinking ES Setif 1-0 in a rainy Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat. The victory sends the Oceanic champions into the semi-finals for the first time, where they will face CONMEBOL kings San Lorenzo in Marrakech on Wednesday.

Auckland enjoyed the better spell of play early on, with chances coming from Ivan Vicelich and Fabrizo Tavano but the first real chance fell to Setif’s Mohamed Benyettou 20 minutes in. The Algerian side's No9 was not able to keep his header on target, however, and missed wide.

Ryan De Vries dispossessed the Setif backline in the 30th minute and took a shot from the top of the area, missing just wide as well. A few minutes later a melee in Setif’s box nearly led to the opening goal but some brave defending cleared the danger before Auckland could find a clear shot on target.

Just before the stroke of half-time, Angel Berlanga chipped Setif goalkeeper Sofiane Khedairia, but his effort glanced off the top of the crossbar to keep the score level as the two teams went into the break scoreless.

Auckland City found their opening goal shortly after the break through an unlikely source. A Navy Blues’ corner snuck through a crowd in the middle of the area and fell to centre-back John Irving. Auckland’s No6 calmly touched it around his defender and found the near corner past Khedairia’s outstretched fingertips.

Tamati Williams – Auckland’s hero in the penalty shoot-out win against Tetouan on Wednesday – made some crucial stops for the Oceanic side, the best of which was to deny Benyettou’s close-range effort in the 61st minute. The final 20 minutes had a frentic pace about it, with Setif searching for the equaliser and Auckland looking to make their lead safe, and the rains only made the game quicker.

An Auckland counter-attack nearly doubled the Navy Blues’ advantage but Khedairia was able to deny De Vries’ shot. Benyettou continued to be a menace for Auckland’s backline, his acrobatic side-volley missing wide from 12 yards in the 75th minute. De Vries could have put the game out of reach 12 minutes from time after beating his man with a clever first touch but his curling shot went wide of the far post. Sofiane Younes’ snapping header also missed wide, which proved to be Setif’s last chance to get back into the game.

It was all hands on deck in the back for Auckland as the Navy Blues saw out the final few minutes and rejoiced as they secured their spot in the semi-finals for what will be a challenging contest against San Lorenzo, while Setif will regroup to prepare for the Match for Fifth Place.

AUCKLAND CITY FC: 1. Tamati WILLIAMS (GK), 3. Takuya IWATA, 4. Mario BILEN, 5. Angel BERLANGA, 6. John IRVING, 8. Tim PAYNE, 10. Ryan DE VRIES (9. Darren WHITE 90+1'), 15. Ivan VICELICH (c), 17. Marko DORDEVIC, 20. Emiliano TADE, 25. Fabrizio TAVANO (14. Sanni ISSA 86').

SUBS NOT USED: 2. Simon ARMS, 7. James PRITCHETT, 11. Cam LINDSAY, 19. David BROWNE, 22. Andrew MILNE, 23. Sam BURFOOT, 18. Louis CAUNTER (GK), 24. Jacob SPOONLEY (GK).

INJURED: 13. Joao MOREIRA, 16. Daewook KIM.

COACH: Ramon TRIBULIETX

FIFA PLAYER OF THE MATCH: John IRVING.

MATCH REPORT: Click here. 

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP - SEMI FINAL
17 December 2014
Stade de Marrakech, Marrakesh, Morocco
v. San Lorenzo lost 1-2 (Pablo BARRIENTOS 45+2', Mauro MATOS 93'/Angel BERLANGA 67')
After extra time
Attendance: 18, 458.

It was one step too far but there mutters about what might have been as the ASB Premiership club took on the might of South American champions San Lorenzo on a crazy night of drama in Marrakesh. Trailing to a Pablo Barrientos goal just before halftime, the Navy Blues levelled midway through the second half through Angel Berlanga. When Emiliano Tade skied his shot high and wide of the target when it looked easier to score, hearts were in mouths as a nation of fascinated non-partisan football supporters watched on back home. Mauro Matos scored a cruel winner in the first minutes of extra time and Auckland City FC's hopes of a dream showdown with Real Madrid were dashed. John Irving looks back on the moment.

“We thought we were world-beaters and felt we could take on anyone at that time. Every team we played, we matched them and took them all the way,” said Irving, who hails from Liverpool. “We were delighted that we got that far and finished third as nobody expected us to do so, but most of the lads were disappointed that we didn’t reach the final.

“When watching San Lorenzo take on Real Madrid, we were there and felt we could have been on that pitch, that it could have been us playing in that final. But it was a massive deal for us to come third and when we got back to New Zealand, there was a big parade for the club and everybody was over the moon for us.”

While he cites the team’s incredible synergy as one of the reasons behind Auckland’s 2014 success, Irving maintains the defining factor was the meticulous preparation of Spanish manager Ramon Tribulietx and his backroom staff, who left nothing to chance in Morocco.

“We were extremely well prepared going into the tournament,” Irving said. “The manager had a gameplan and we worked very hard on it. Ramon studied every game and had everything down to a T. When it came to matchday, we were well drilled and knew what to do.

“And on a one-to-one basis too, he always took time out to make sure you were doing okay, not just in football terms but in your personal life as well.”

AUCKLAND CITY FC: 1. Tamati WILLIAMS (GK), 3. Takuya IWATA, 4. Mario BILEN, 5. Angel BERLANGA, 6. John IRVING, 8. Tim PAYNE, 10. Ryan DE VRIES, 15. Ivan VICELICH (c), 17. Marko DORDEVIC (14. Sanni ISSA 96'), 20. Emiliano TADE (19. David BROWNE 90+3'), 25. Fabrizio TAVANO (23. Sam BURFOOT 100').

SUBS NOT USED: 2. Simon ARMS, 7. James PRITCHETT, 11. Cam LINDSAY, 22. Andrew MILNE, 18. Louis CAUNTER (GK), 24. Jacob SPOONLEY (GK).

INJURED: 13. Joao MOREIRA, 16. Daewook KIM.

COACH: Ramon TRIBULIETX

FIFA PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Pablo BARRIENTOS (San Lorenzo)

MATCH REPORT: Click here. 

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP - THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF
20 December 2014
Stade de Marrakech, Marrakesh, Morocco
v. Cruz Azul drew 1-1 (Joao ROJAS 57'/Ryan DE VRIES 45+2')
Attendance: 38, 345.
(Auckland City FC won 4-2 on penalties)

Auckland City FC ended their historic FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014 campaign by finishing in third place after defeating CONCACAF champions Cruz Azul 4-2 on penalties.

Cruz Azul got off to a shaky start after Francisco Rodriguez easily lost possession to Fabrizio Tavano, whose shot was saved by an alert Jose Corona in the Cruz Azul goal.

The Mexican side eventually found their confidence and in the tenth minute Joao Rojas narrowly missed at the far post after Alejandro Vela had sent in a cross from the left wing. Ten minutes later, La Maquina (The Machine) had another chance when Marco Fabian's left-footed strike from just inside the box was saved by Auckland City FC goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley.

The New Zealanders would respond in the 28th minute when Emiliano Tade dribbled past Gerardo Flores in the left side of the box to create space for his powerful right-footed shot, which was saved from a narrow angle by Corona.

Both sides looked to be heading into the break level, however, Ryan de Vries had other plans. In stoppage time, a long diagonal ball from Tade found the 23-year-old who shook off his defender to slot his shot past Corona and give Auckland City FC a 1-0 lead.

The Mexican side appeared to have their equaliser minutes after the break when Mauro Formica headed in a cross from the right wing, but he was adjudged to be offside. The CONCACAF champions continued to put pressure on the Auckland City FC goal, and they finally found the equaliser in the 57th minute when Vela's cross from the left wing found Rojas, whose header was initially blocked by Takuya Iwata, but the ball landed at his feet and he made no mistake with his strike.

Cruz Azul continued to pose a threat with possession and just five minutes after their goal, they almost had another when Fabian's spectacular scissor kick was blocked by Auckland City FC's Darren White. Substitute Christian Gimenez almost gave Cruz Azul the lead in the 73rd minute, but his headed effort went straight into the arms of Spoonley.

Each side would have one more chance, de Vries set up Auckland City FC's Tim Payne whose shot from the edge of the box was saved by Corona, and Flores crossed from the right side for Formica, whose headed effort was again saved by a sprawling Spoonley to take the game to a penalty shoot-out.

Auckland City FC held their nerves from the spot and defeated Cruz Azul 4-2 on penalties with Sanni Issa scoring the eventual winner, to become the first Oceanian side to win a medal at the FIFA Club World Cup.

AUCKLAND CITY FC:  24. Jacob SPOONLEY (GK), 3. Takuya IWATA, 4. Mario BILEN, 6. John IRVING, 8. Tim PAYNE, 9. Darren WHITE, 10. Ryan DE VRIES, 15. Ivan VICELICH (c)(11. Cam LINDSAY 80'), 20. Emiliano TADE (7. James PRITCHETT 90+1'), 23. Sam BURFOOT (14. Sanni ISSA 57'), 25. Fabrizio TAVANO.

SUBS NOT USED: 1. Tamati WILLIAMS (GK), 2. Simon ARMS, 18. Louis CAUNTER (GK), 19. David BROWNE, 22. Andrew MILNE.

INJURED: 13. Joao MOREIRA, 16. Daewook KIM, 17. Marko DORDEVIC.

SUSPENDED: 5. Angel BERLANGA.

COACH: Ramon TRIBULIETX

FIFA PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Tim PAYNE.

MATCH REPORT: Click here.

OCEANIA'S HALL OF FAME ON THE WORLD STAGE
Oceania Football Confederation is the weakest of the six constituent bodies that make up membership of FIFA, so who are the achievers from the region who have held the torch aloft and against the odds? We take a look at all the medallists across 52 years of competition to see where they rank.

FIFA WORLD CUP
N/A

OLYMPIC GAMES MEN'S FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
N/A

FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP
1997 Australia runners-up

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP
2014 Auckland City FC third place

FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP
1993 Australia fourth place
1991 Australia fourth place

FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP
1999 Australia runners-up

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
N/A

OLYMPIC GAMES WOMEN'S FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
N/A

FIFA U-20 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
N/A

FIFA U-17 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
2018 New Zealand third place

OTHER FORMS OF FOOTBALL:

FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP
2017 Tahiti runners-up
2015 Tahiti runners-up

FIFA FUTSAL WORLD CUP
N/A

OCEANIA FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION - MEDAL FINISHES

GOLD MEDALS: None.
SILVER MEDALS: Four.
BRONZE MEDALS: Two.
FOURTH PLACE: Two.

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