Auckland United are preparing to make history tonight when they face China’s Wuhan Jiangda in their opening match of the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, a fixture that, on paper, may look like a David versus Goliath encounter, but one the Oceania champions are approaching with confidence and belief.
Wuhan Jiangda earned their place in the global tournament after defeating Women’s A-League champions Melbourne City 5-4 on penalties in the AFC Women’s Champions League Final earlier this year. Meanwhile, Ben Bate’s Auckland United booked their ticket to China by overcoming Hekari United 1–0 in the OFC Women’s Champions League Final in Tahiti.
The winner of tonight’s match at Wuhan Sports Centre Stadium will advance to face the CAF (African) champions in the second round, scheduled for December.
Despite the challenge ahead, head coach Ben Bate believes his side is capable of producing something special.
“We have a huge amount of respect for our opponents. It’s no small feat to win the AFC Champions League against the best clubs in Asia,” said Bate. “That said, we’ve spent the last six months analysing every game they’ve played. We know their strengths, but we also see opportunities to hurt them and create chances for ourselves.”
In preparation, Auckland United have been based in Shanghai, where they played a training match against Shanghai Shengli, a club that competes in the same domestic league as Wuhan.
“The warm-up game in Shanghai was invaluable,” Bate explained. “Facing a team of similar calibre in similar conditions helped the players adjust to what they’ll experience in Wuhan. Often, it’s the unknowns that can be the biggest barrier to success, so having that exposure will be a massive help as we look to make history.”
The team has also welcomed a late addition to their squad, striker Zoe Benson, the standout performer and Golden Ball winner at the OFC U-19 Women’s Championship in Tahiti.
“Zoe had a fantastic tournament in Tahiti, and it’s great to see her recognised for her performances,” Bate said. “Given her recent experience in similar conditions, she’s probably the most acclimatised player in the squad and will hit the ground running.”
Kick-off is at 9 p.m. New Zealand time, with the match streamed live and free on FIFA+ WATCH HERE