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”.

Boca Juniors will face Auckland City in their last match of the group phase of the Club World Cup and only a win can secure the Argentinian side a spot in the next round, but they will also need Bayern Munich to win against Benfica in the other match of Group C and to outperform the Portuguese team in the goal difference.

Christian Gray scored Auckland City’s first goal of the Club World Cup early in the second half before a 50-minute suspension caused by lightning in the area, and the amateur team gained a 1-1 draw against Boca Juniors as the Argentine club was eliminated.