NEW YORK, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Auckland City only scored one goal in its three matches in the FIFA Club World Cup, but Christian Gray's header in Tuesday's 1-1 draw against Boca Juniors has meant a big, unexpected and deserved payday for him and his team-mates.
Auckland City suffered a painful 10-0 defeat against Bayern Munich in its first group game, and although the team held on until the eighth minute of first half injury time before conceding against Benfica in its second game, tired legs in the second half meant the match ended in another 6-0 defeat.
Neither result was a huge surprise, given that in contrast to near neighbors Auckland FC, who plays in the Australian A-League, Auckland City is a semi-professional team whose players earn less than 100 US dollars a week.
"I clean swimming pools and jacuzzies and I had to take holidays from my work, otherwise I couldn't have been here and I didn't get paid for the days we have been in the United States," explained goalkeeper Sebastian Ciganda - another of Auckland City's heroes in an interview with radio station DSports Radio on Tuesday night.
The club also received a fraction of the other teams currently playing in the USA, because while the representatives from Europe are paid between 12.81 and 38.19 million dollars just for taking part, and South American teams take home 15.21 million each for playing in the group stage, Auckland City receives just 3.58 million dollars.
While clubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Chelsea are looking at a massive payday from the summer tournament, Auckland City was just about paying its expenses.
However, Gray's header changed that, and his goal and a heroic defensive display to cling on for a draw against one of the most powerful sides from South America means Auckland now receives an extra million dollars, which will be shared among the club staff and players, giving them a bonus none of them expected and more than compensates the efforts they made just to be in the Club World Cup.
Ciganda, Gray and company will always remember Auckland City's draw against Boca and now they have some financial reward as well. ■
