Auckland United have suffered a heartbreaking 0-1 defeat to Wuhan Jiangda in the opening round of the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup™.
The OFC representatives came close to pulling off a huge upset over the Asian champions, but despite holding their own for much of the contest, conceded a late goal just minutes before the final whistle in Wuhan.
The FIFA Women’s Champions Cup 2026™ is the first women’s club competition to be run by FIFA, and is contested by all of the six continental champions. Auckland United earnt their spot after winning the 2025 OFC Women’s Champions League in Tahiti in May.
Forced to weather the early storm from Wuhan, Auckland made two goal-line clearances inside the first eight minutes. Kristen Molloy got it away after Hannah Mitchell made a save against Song Duan, before Jess Philpot cleared from a corner delivery.
The OFC representatives soon found a foothold in the contest, frustrating their more-fancied hosts with a midfield block through the first half. It led to a number of dangerous counter-attacks, Dani Canham pushing Wuhan goalkeeper Chen Chen to tip over the top of the crossbar, and Ava Collins also having a shot saved.
Still scoreless at the half-time break, Auckland United were more than holding their own against the Asian champions, and getting into good positions.
Wuhan upped the tempo in hot conditions after the break, controlling a lot more of the game in the second half, and testing Mitchell with a save from long range to start.
Wang Shuang thought she’d broken the deadlock in the 74th minute when capitalising on a Mitchell error to score, but the attacker was found to be offside in the build-up.
Auckland continued to fight hard, but their resistance eventually broke in heartbreaking fashion right at the end of the 90. A long ball slipped in-behind the Kiwi defence, and Jiang Chenjing was on hand to poke it into the back of the net for the Wuhan winner.
Whilst it was not the result Auckland United would have hoped for, they can hold their heads high for the fight and resillience they showed as OFC’s first representatives at a FIFA women’s club competition.
Wuhan Jiangda: 1 (Jiang CHENJING 88’)
Auckland United: 0
HT: 0-0
Photo Credit: FIFA via Getty Images