North Shore Community Radio’s own sports commentator Sam Coley watched the football match between Auckland City and Al Ahli and believes the Kiwis might be in with a chance to carry on their winning year.
In the opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009, Oceania club champions Auckland astounded punters beating Al Ahli 2-0 in Abu Dhabi to become the first New Zealand side to win a game at FIFA’s pinnacle club event.
The amateur Auckland City team with players including students, an electrician and a interior decorator – now progress to the quarter-finals where they will face Mexico’s Atlante on Saturday. They will now pick up a minimum of $1 million USD in prize money.
Sam says while the Mexicans are a very fast and attacking team, it will be crucial that we adjust to their tactics and don’t play their game.
“We have to shut them down and perhaps play a similar style of football that the All Whites played against Bahrain in the World Cup qualifier recently.”
“We are the only non-professional team that are still in this competition. All the other teams are all professionals. The prospect of facing Barcelona in the semi-final is what any footballer dreams of – especially against a power house player like Barcelona,” Sam said.
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