New Zealanders hail Auckland City's amateurs as 'heroic' after CWC draw with Boca Juniors

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — It might not have been the shot heard around the world but it was a goal that reverbrated 13,000 kilometers (8,000 miles) away when Auckland City FC scored Tuesday to draw 1-1 with Boca Juniors at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Christian Gray, a trainee teacher at Mt. Roskill Intermediate School in Auckland, rose to meet the corner of Jerson Lagos, a barber, and headed in the equalizer as the mostly-amateur team from New Zealand held Diego Maradona’s fasmous old Argentine club to a draw.

Auckland lost 10-0 to Bayern Munich and 6-0 to Benfica in its first two matches, leading to questions over FIFA’s decision to allow a team of part-timers from Oceania, it’s smallest confederation, to compete with the professional superstars of world soccer.

Even Auckland City’s local paper, the New Zealand Herald, joined the critics, suggesting the team had “damaged Auckland City FC’s proud 20-year legacy” in FIFA events.

“It’s been a trying few weeks,” the Herald reported after two defeats. “In the past, Auckland City have been renowned for punching above their weight on the global stage, while usually having a couple of outstanding individuals. That hasn’t quite been the case here.”

But Auckland City left its best to last, producing an outstanding performance to the satisfaction of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who was among the crowd at the match in Nashville.

“It’s been a tough trip, you know, we’ve had some tough results but just happy for the team,” Gray said. “I think we deserve it. We got a little bit of respect back I hope.

“We rely on volunteers, we don’t have a lot of money so I’m just happy that they’re happy.”

The New Zealand media hasn't paid close attention to the Club World Cup, mostly focused on the end of the Super Rugby competition. Soccer takes a back seat in rugby-mad New Zealand. But this result got prominant coverage.

Radio New Zealand described the draw with Boca Juniors as “stunning.”

“Thanks to Gray’s heroics and some incredibly committed defense, Auckland City managed to pull off a result that will reverberate strongly around the football world,” RNZ said.

The New Zealand Herald branded it “remarkable” and “famous.”

“The squad of real estate agents, teachers, sales reps, tradesmen and students would have hoped they could make a mark on the world stage while knowing it was probably impossible,” the newspaper wrote. “But they have done it — against massive odds.

“Anyone around the football world coming across this result will be rubbing their eyes in disbelief. But it’s true. It’s all true.”

The Herald said Auckland City “will leave the tournament on a bit of a high, knowing that the painful journey has been worthwhile.”

A leading local news website, Stuff, said Auckland City “were rank outsiders against one of South America’s most famous institutions."

“Most of their team is comprised of amateur players who will be returning to their regular jobs at home. But they went toe to toe against one of South America’s largest professional clubs that was home to Argentine icon Diego Maradona.”

Television New Zealand said Auckland City had been “humiliated” in its first two matches at the World Cup but their performance on Tuesday was “heroic.”

It's unlikely a story of the same magnitude will be written in future. From now on Oceania — which includes the likes of New Zealand, Fiji and the Solomon Islands — will be represented by a professional team.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Auckland City's Christian Gray, center, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal with teammates during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Johnnie Izquierdo)

Auckland City's Nathan Garrow, right, and Auckland City's Jerson Lagos celebrate after the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Auckland City's Christian Gray, second right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal with teammates during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Johnnie Izquierdo)

Auckland City's Adam Mitchell, left, and Jerson Lagos celebrate after the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Auckland City's Christian Gray, center left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Club World Cup Group C soccer match between Auckland City and Boca Juniors in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

WENGEN, Switzerland (AP) — Marco Odermatt already has no equals on the World Cup skiing circuit.

Now the Swiss star is unmatched in the biggest event on home snow, too.

Odermatt dominated a shortened race Saturday to set up his fourth career downhill victory in Wengen — breaking a tie for the most downhill victories on the famed Lauberhorn course with Franz Klammer and Beat Feuz.

Austrian standout Klammer claimed his three Wengen downhill wins in the 1970s while Feuz, another Swiss skier, claimed his third victory in 2020.

What’s more is that Odermatt’s four wins have come in succession.

Odermatt finished a massive 0.79 seconds ahead of Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr and 0.90 ahead of Italy's Giovanni Franzoni, who claimed his first career victory in Friday's super-G.

Strong winds prompted organizers to drastically shorten the course — making the narrow and tactical “Kernen S” section the key to the race. Odermatt mastered the section perfectly and carried away a faster speed on the exit than anyone else.

Franjo von Allmen and Alexis Money, two other Swiss skiers, finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Von Allmen, the world champion in downhill last season, took a riskier approach and skied into a television camera lining the course inside the “S” section. Then he crashed in the finish area — although appeared unhurt.

Dominik Paris of Italy was sixth after registering the top speed at 151.57 kph (94 kph).

It’s the first of the two weekends at the circuit’s classic venues, with Kitzbuehel, Austria, up next. Then the focus will switch to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy — with the men to ski in Bormio.

Odermatt won gold in giant slalom at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and will be favored to win multiple medals at the upcoming Games.

Overall, it was Odermatt’s 52nd World Cup victory, moving him within two wins of matching Hermann Maier for third place on the all-time men’s list. He's also got a massive lead in the standings as he chases a fifth consecutive overall World Cup title.

Odermatt immediately knew he had done something special again, screaming with delight in the finish area and waving to the crowd, which was made up almost entirely of fans waving Swiss flags.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen crashes at the finish area of an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Wengen, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)

Spectators gather to follow an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill race, in Wengen, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt reacts in the finish area during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill race, in Wengen, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Peter Schneider/Keystone via AP)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Wengen, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt reacts in the finish area during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill race, in Wengen, Switzerland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Peter Schneider/Keystone via AP)