Oceania’s only representative in the first edition of the Club World Cup, the Auckland CityFrom New Zealand, he became a subject of the competition in the first round, when he suffered a 10-0 rout from the giant Bayern Munich. Eliminated from the competition, the amateur team managed to swing the net once, in a 1-1 draw with Boca Juniors, in the last round, a result that was a feat for the New Zealandes.
The author of Auckland City’s only goal at the Club World Cup was the defender Christian Gray (This in favor, not to mention a goal against). The 28 -year -old advocate was high by high after a corner kick seven minutes into the second half and headed to the net. The other goal of the game was also from a player from the New Zealand team, Nathan Kyle Garrow, the team goalkeeper, only against his own goal.
The Auckland City said goodbye to the competition in the group C’s lantern, with only 1 point won, and conceded 17 goals (10 from Bayern, 6 of Benfica and 1 of Boca Juniors) and marked only one.
More than the notorious feat, Gray’s goal still had a financial importance for Auckland City. The draw against Boca Juniors meant the additional award of $ 1 million. Just for the participation, the Oceania team had also earned $ 3.58 million (about $ 20 million).
Who is Christian Gray
28 -year -old player, defender Christian Gray has not been usually the starter of Auckland City, a team he has defended since 2022. At the Club World Cup, for example, he was reserve during the clash against Bayern Munich and only entered the 80th minute of the duel against Benfica. Only against Boca Juniors was a starter.
Like most Auckland City players, Gray reconciles football with another profession. He is a teacher of Physical Education (in training) at the ‘Auckland School of Grammar’. Being an amateur club, Auckland City does not pay wages, only essential costs.
In football, in addition to Auckland City, Christian Gray has also defended Waitakere United and Eastern Suburbs AFC, clubs in New Zealand. Only in his current team came to win titles, highlighting the four Oceania Champions League titles.
In addition to the head goal of Professor Christian Gray, the assistance was from Colombian barber and striker Jerson Lagos, who hit the corner.
History at the Club World Cup
Although Christian Gray’s goal is the first of Auckland City at the Club World Cup, the new FIFA World Cup format, the New Zealand team has shook the networks at the Club World Cup, a competition that played 12 times since 2006. In all, there are 18 games, with 3 wins, 2 draws and 13 losses. There were 10 goals scored and 32 goals conceded.
In the old club format of clubs, Auckland City was almost always as a rule eliminated in its first round. However, in 2014 it reached the semifinal and lost by ‘only’ 4-0 to Real Madrid. At the time, he still took third place after beating Cruz Azul on penalties.
Already the most top scorer of Auckland City at the Club World Cup was in 2009, when he scored two goals at Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates, and another three against Congo Mazembe. At the time, it ended the fifth place.
