Auckland United came desperately close to stunning the women's footballing world at the Wuhan Sports Centre Stadium on October 9, the amateurs from Oceania going down to a late goal from Asian professionals Wuhan Jiangda in the inaugural fixture of FIFA's newest competition, the FIFA Women's Champions Cup. A tournament which will involve the champion women's clubs of FIFA's six confederations, its opening match pitted the cream of Asia and Oceania together, but that's where the similarities ceased. Wuhan, who hosted the game, are a fully professional outfit which won five consecutive Chinese Women's Super Leagues from 2020 to 2024, and claimed the inaugural AFC Women's Champions League in May, edging Melbourne City on penalties in the final. Their squad boast the captains of China and the Korea Republic, and a former AFC Women's Player of the Year. United, meanwhile, won New Zealand's National Women's League title in both 2023 and 2024, the catalyst for entering and subsequently winning the OFC Women's Champions League crown in 2024 and 2025. They were also well out of their comfort zone, playing in mid-thirties temperatures at their opponents' home ground in front of a 32,318-strong crowd, and on a hiding to nothing. Yet they defied the formbook, and the expectations of many, by matching their opponents stride for stride, giving their all and then some, only to fall to an 88th minute strike which was initially flagged offside before the Video Assistant Referee, which had earlier come to Auckland's rescue to deny Wuhan a 74th minute goal, intervened to the relief of the natives, and, doubtless, a few folk at FIFA who had probably anticipated a one-sided encounter. Ben Bate's charges began the match in solid fashion, but their opponents were first to threaten, in the fourth minute. Kim Hyeri spread play wide to Wang Shuang, who got to the edge of the penalty area before linking with Yao Wei. Wuhan's captain turned and played in Deng Mengye, but Jess Philpot and Hannah Mitchell combined to slam shut the door. Two minutes later, Kim, Deng and Wang combined again, the last-mentioned's shot being blocked by Alaina Granger. The ball rebounded to Song Duan, whose shot was parried by Mitchell, with Kristen Molloy clearing this rebound for a corner, picking up an injury in the process. While she was off the pitch receiving treatment, Wang delivered the set piece to the far post. Wu Haiyan promptly unleashed a lobbed volley which had 'goal' written all over it until Philpot rose to head the ball off the line. Auckland first flexed their attacking muscles in the eighth minute, Chloe Knott pouncing on a poor Wuhan clearance before inviting Ava Collins to let fly, a volley which was greedily grabbed by Chen Chen. She was called upon again seven minutes later as United grew into the contest. On this occasion, they produced a lovely flowing move, with Danielle Canham, Knott and Rene Wasi combining before Canham switched play to Alexis Cook. She brought Collins into the attack, the striker laying the ball back for Yume Harashima - a Herculean effort in the heart of midfield - to unleash a twenty-five yarder which Chen smothered. Thus began a super ten-minute spell for the Aucklanders, Wasi leading the next raid in the eighteenth minute. She brought Collins into play, but her bid to pick out Cook was cut out by Wu. The ball was cleared back to Wasi, who promptly found her fellow winger, Cook duly whipping in a wicked cross which had Knott's name all over it before Ma Jun's vital intervention prevented the opening goal. Canham delivered the resulting corner to the far post, where Talisha Green, who was impeded by a defender, directed a header over the bar. Another defensive intervention by Ma prevented Collins from capitalising on Cook's cross minutes later, but in the 25th minute, Auckland came desperately close to taking the lead. Another fine move carved Wuhan apart. Collins sent Knott careering down the right, from where she delivered a cross beyond the far post to Canham, who briefly lost then retrieved the ball before linking with Cook. She returned the favour, inviting Canham to unleash a vicious fifteen yard drive which Chen, at full stretch, tipped over the bar. Wuhan was now on notice - this was not going to be the walk in the park they had anticipated. They survived Canham's resulting corner - Chen punched the ball off Green's head by the far post - and ignited a counter-attack which culminated in Philpot blocking Deng's shot. Seconds later, Mitchell parried Song's twenty-five yard missile to safety as Wuhan looked to regain the ascendancy. Eleven minutes before half-time, they were afforded another chance, Wang's corner resulting in a thumping Ma header which was surpassed by the flying save to her right produced by Mitchell - this one was right out of the top drawer. Wu swooped on the ball, but Green blocked her

first attempt to break the deadlock, while the now recovered Mitchell was on hand to deny her second effort. The goalkeeper was in action again three minutes before half-time, preventing Song's cross from reaching Wang. Two minutes prior, Auckland went close again, with Cook and Knott combining on the right before sending Collins off on a gallop down the same flank. She unleashed a cross-shot which deceived Chen, but which landed on the roof of the net. Wuhan were clearly the subjects of a half-time rev-up from coach Chang Weiwei if the way they started the second spell was anything to go by. Wang's 48th minute corner wasn't cleared, inviting a twenty yard half-volley from Qin Manman. Mitchell once more flew to her right to deny the opposition. Four minutes later, she watched a shot from Song Duan, struck from inside the 'D', fly over the bar after Yao and half-time substitute Song Fei and combined with Wang, who again threatened in the 53rd minute. Green and Mitchell combined to snuff out this opportunity, while the retreating figure of Harashima stepped in to avert the threat posed by another opening soon afterwards. Auckland weathered the storm and came back with a good spell around the hour mark, one inspired by their midfield trio, who were working like Trojans - Canham, Harashima and Knott each put in huge shifts for the cause, but they weren't alone on that front. Cook was the star of their next attack, intercepting a pass then evading a challenge before crossing to the near post, Collins her intended target. Ma had other ideas, again, clearing with the striker right on her shoulder and poised to strike. Back came Wuhan, Mitchell denying Song Duan at her near post after the striker had got the better of Molloy and Granger, who made amends by stepping in in the 66th minute to deny Wang, after Yao had got to the left-hand by-line and whipped in a cross. Wang was in again twenty minutes from time, this time via a long ball over the top. Mitchell dashed off her line to deny her once more, ably supported by Granger. Auckland immediately counter-attacked, Collins getting to the by-line before bringing substitute Zoe Benson into play. A first time shot was on, but the desire to take a touch got the better of her. In the situation she was in, it had to be perfect. Alas, 'twas not. But Benson looked to make amends via a 73rd minute corner, which was cleared to Harashima. She whipped it back into the danger zone, where Collins flicked header was grabbed by Chen. She promptly launched the ball downfield, unleashing Wang, who fired past Mitchell to open the scoring, only for VAR to cut short her goal celebrations, much to Auckland's relief. They were starting to tire - understandably, given the heat - but threatened again in the 79th minute via another Benson corner. This one was delivered to the near post, prompting Chen to paw it out to Annalie Longo. The Football Ferns legend, who in the twilight of her storied career has returned to the club where it all began twenty years ago, returned the ball to Benson, who evaded a challenge before crossing to the far post, where Green headed over the bar. Wuhan came again, led once more by Wang. This 85th minute raid saw her cross, intended for Mavis Owusu, cleared by Green. Seconds later, Mitchell pawed a Kim cross out as far as Song Fei, whose shot struck substitute Jiang Chenjing, a player whom Auckland were soon wishing wasn't on the pitch. Because it was Jiang who broke United's hearts in the 88th minute. Song Duan played the ball in to Kim, whose deft flicked header found Jiang darting between defenders to drive her shot beyond the advancing figure of Mitchell. The offside flag was aloft, however. Were we heading for extra time? A VAR check decreed otherwise - the goal was valid. 1-0 Wuhan, whose fans started celebrating a goal they had to wait far longer than they expected. Auckland were stunned. So near yet so far. They went all out for an equaliser in the time remaining, but Chen thwarted Emma Rolston's bid to capitalise on Longo's cross. The final whistle sounded soon after, with Wuhan's joy contrasting sharply with Auckland's despair. The travelling team had given their all and then some, and look back now wondering what might have been. They'll look on enviously in December, when Wuhan travel to the yet-to-be-determined African champions, with the winner of that tie to take on reigning European champions Arsenal in one of the semi-finals in London on January 28. What might have been … Wuhan:     Chen; Wu, Xu, Ma (Owusu, 80), Kim, Huang; Yao, Qin (Jiang, 69); Wang, Deng (F. Song, 46), D. Song (Tang, 90) Auckland:     Mitchell; Green, Philpot, Granger, Molloy (Rolston, 90); Knott (Dugan, 90), Harashima, Canham (Longo, 69); Cook (Edwards, 63), Collins (booked, 88), Wasi (Benson, 63) Referee:     Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)