Jason Hayne played his part with a goal in each half to set up the victory and cap off a stunning tournament for the Oceania representatives who bring home $1.5 million USD in prize money.

Coach Paul Posa emphasized the importance of the result straight after the match.

“We gave a good account of ourselves and played with a lot more belief than against Atlante. Fifth place is a sensational result for us, the biggest night in the history of Auckland City.”

After an upset 2-0 win over hosts Al Ahli and their ensuing 0-3 loss to Mexico’s Atlante, Posa’s amateur squad were again underdogs going into the fifth place play-off against the Congolese giants Mazembe at Zayed Sports City.

They set off with purpose from the whistle earning a corner inside the first minute which Ivan Vicelich headed just over the bar.

But it was a decidedly uneventful opening spell until the game was turned on its head in the 24th minute when Mazembe goalkeeper Muteba Kidiaba was shown a straight red card for handling the ball outside the box as Daniel Koprovcic steamed down on goal.

Substitute goalkeeper Aime Bakula almost made the same mistake five minutes later rushing out to Hayne just outside the area but the midfielder managed to chest the ball away from the oncoming Bakula and calmly side-foot home for Auckland’s first. Defender Sam Campbell almost made it two in the 41st minute with a header that flashed just wide.

The second half, in contrast to the first, was full of chances as both teams went on the attack.

Hayne was again in the action after a through ball from substitute Daniel Morgan sent him bearing down on goal in the 52nd minute but the first-half scorer blasted the ball straight at Bakula when Grant Young and Chad Coombes were queuing up for the square pass inside.

Mazembe then applied pressure with a series of attacks ending in a 25-yard bullet from Ngandu Kasonga on the hour which flew into the top left corner for the equaliser.

Didier Carzitto’s side continued to pepper the Auckland goal and would have taken the lead in the 64th minute but for a fine save by Gothard, the 35-year-old blocking Kilitcho Kasusula’s seven-yard volley with his legs. Kasusula eventually got his goal on 68 minutes after captain Mputu teed him up with a clever back heal inside the box.

Mazembe looked like they could run away with the game but Auckland showed plenty of resolve to hit back in the 72nd minute. After a charging run by Coombes into the box, Young had his shot blocked by Baluka and the rebound fell to Hayne whose powerful left-foot striker from 12 yards hit the roof of the net.

Mazembe’s Ngandu Kasonga had a chance from close range on 78 minutes but lifted the spinning ball over the net while teammate Dioko Kaluyituka wasted two opportunities at the death.

With the Barcelona-Atlante match to follow, it would have been penalties to decide the match after 90 minutes had it stayed at 2-2. But it wasn’t to be. Four minutes into injury time, Young and Morgan combined well down the left to set up second-half substitute Riki van Steedan who slotted the ball home from 10 yards for a dramatic winner