‘Farcical’: Kiwis humiliated as bloodbath rocks football

Records have been destroyed and a Kiwi team’s dream has turned into a nightmare on a staggering day at the Club World Cup.

Somebody stop the damn match!

Bayern Munich have been accused of going too far as they broke records with a 10-0 win over Auckland FC in the Club World Cup on Monday morning.

The German club showed no mercy against their amateur opponents in the ugliest result in the history of the tournament.

The crowd of 21,152 inside the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati didn’t know what to do after watching a bloodbath unfold as Bayern scored six first-half goals and then kept swinging their axe all the way to the final whistle.

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The record-breaking rout was highlighted by Jamal Musiala’s second half cameo where he came off the bench to score a hat-trick in 18 minutes.

Bayern’s margin of victory is the biggest in Club World Cup history. The previous record had been set by Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal in 2021 when they beat UAE-based side Al Jazira 6-1.

Bayern have recorded bigger victories in the past in the German Cup, but the 10-goal winning margin equals their best ever in the Bundesliga, when they beat Borussia Dortmund 11-1 in 1971.

Ten fingers for 10 goals. Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP.

It was always feared the contest was going to turn ugly — but few could have expected it would turn this unsavoury.

The Sun’s Tom Barclay called it an “embarrassing” scene for the competitiveness of the tournament, describing the mismatch as a “farce”.

Kingsley Coman, Michael Olise and Thomas Mueller all netted twice, while Sacha Boey was on target too for the German champions in the game in Group C, which also features Boca Juniors and Benfica.

“We have to remain modest but it was important to be able to say that we took the game seriously,” said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany.

“It was a good first match at the tournament, but of course challenges are going to grow and it’s going to become more difficult.”

Bayern at least showed Auckland some respect by refusing to implement the mercy rule — however, there have been claims from some fans that the European giant should have taken the foot off the accelerator.

Musiala was asked after the game if he felt sorry for Auckland. His response was a blunt, “No”.

After shaking his head, Musiala again told the same TV reporter: “No”.

There were plenty who did feel sorry for the Kiwi team, which is made up mostly of players with full time jobs.

The result confirmed the enormous gulf between one of Europe’s giants and an Auckland side who have won the Oceania Champions League 13 times but whose amateur players had to take unpaid leave to travel to the United States for the tournament.

“This is the reality of football against one of the world’s top teams,” admitted City’s interim coach, Ivan Vicelich.

“It is a dream for players coming from an amateur level to play in this environment.

“We knew it was going to be a very difficult game, playing against one of the top teams in the world, potentially one of the favourites for the Club World Cup, so we are just really proud of the players’ efforts.”

The last photo taken before the Auckland FC defence went missing. AP Photo/Jeff Dean.

Among Auckland’s players were real estate agents, barbers and a forklift-driving goalkeeper.

They are the only non-professional side taking part in the expanded tournament. It is the first time 32 clubs have appeared in the Club World Cup, with the competition now to be held every four years.

Auckland players will eventually fly home having lived a dream to play on the global stage, but there are parts that will haunt them.

The most traumatising thing for Auckland players will be the sound of Bayern Munich’s iconic Can-can goal celebration song.

It was played all 10 times Bayern scored.

Auckland midfielder Michael den Heijer has told stuff.co.nz, it was tough hearing the music so often.

“I’ll be hearing that music in my dreams – or nightmares, let’s call it,” he said.

He went on to say: “It’s an unbelievable challenge to play against one of the world’s best teams.

“As the goals went in, obviously you get down on yourself, and that gets more challenging, but we did try our very hardest to keep them out.

“We stuck to our game plan, and we kept going.”

Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman, centre right, heads the ball past Auckland City's Conor Tracey. AP Photo/Jeff Dean.

Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller celebrates after scoring his side's tenth goal. AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel.

It was a stroll in the park in the midday sun in Cincinnati for Kompany’s side, with France winger Coman scoring twice in the opening 21 minutes either side of goals by compatriots Boey and Olise.

Coman’s sixth-minute breakthrough goal was the first of the tournament following the 0-0 draw between Inter Miami and Al Ahly in Saturday’s opening game.

Mueller got the fifth and Olise’s second of the afternoon made it 6-0 in first-half stoppage time for the Bundesliga heavyweights.

Olise’s strike for the sixth was the pick of the day’s goals, as he came in from the right before curling a shot on his left foot into the far corner.

Auckland City managed to stem the tide for much of the second half before Musiala came on and took centre stage, his three goals including one from the penalty spot after he had been fouled.

Mueller, who will leave Bayern after the tournament, made it 10-0 in the 89th minute with his 250th goal for the club.

Bayern, who gave new signing Jonathan Tah a debut in central defence following his recent arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, play Boca in their next match in Miami on Friday.

Auckland City take on Benfica earlier the same day in Orlando.

Originally published as ‘Farcical’: Kiwis humiliated as bloodbath rocks football