CNN
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It’s not often the iconic Argentine club that the legendary Diego Maradona once played for gets “schooled” yet it happened and it’s a lesson we can all learn from.

As some of the biggest names in soccer gather this week in New Jersey for the semifinals and final of the FIFA Club World Cup, watching on from over 8,000 miles away in New Zealand will be very one interested spectator.

Christian Gray is a defender with Auckland City FC, the only amateur side to play in the tournament hosted in the United States. Christian is a trainee physical education teacher who just happens to have scored what he’s calling the goal of his life – a thundering header against the mighty Boca Juniors which counts Uruguayan icon Edinson Cavani amongst its ranks. It was one of just six goals Gray has scored in four years for the Kiwi side.

“It literally felt like a dream. You know, I don’t often score goals, but to score in that game was like a surreal moment. Boca Juniors, as we know, are a massive, a massive club and we’re obviously a small little club from New Zealand,” Gray told CNN Sports.

“It was a surreal feeling, a little bit of disbelief. It’s hard to believe it was me that scored the goal. But I think by the time I processed it, my teammate Myer Bevan was on my back, jumped on my back, and we were having a big group hug.”

Christian’s goal earned his team a shock 1-1 draw against the South American giant with both teams ultimately exiting the tournament after failing to advance to the last-16.

After such a historic result for last year’s Oceania Champions League winners, there was some time for celebration – though not a lot.

“We had a couple of nights to enjoy with the team and with the supporters. We then had a 30-hour trip all the way back to New Zealand. And I’ve been straight back into my assignments and my study. Fortunately, it’s a school holiday, so there’s no school, but I still have my assignments to do,” Gray said.

Gray returns to his day job July 14 at Auckland Grammar School where a hero’s welcome awaits him.

“From what I’ve heard, the school was buzzing for me. They were very happy for me. I’ve had a few messages from staff. I know the boys and how passionate they are about their sport and their football, so I’m sure they’ll be pretty happy,” he said to CNN Sports.

“There’s a lot of learnings from this tournament, I think. You know, the whole underdog story and anything’s possible if you believe in yourself, these kinds of things. So, I think there’s a lot of lessons in there that I, maybe I can share with the boys.”

For Auckland City, the headline-grabbing draw with Boca Juniors was especially satisfying given a 10-0 defeat to European heavyweight Bayern Munich then a 6-0 loss to Portugal’s Benfica earlier in the tournament. The double-digit loss at the hands of the Bavarian giant was especially tough to take.

“We realized it’s Bayern Munich, one of the best teams in the world. But, you know, the club has a proud and successful history. We did feel a sense of shame and disappointment at that result, but I think deep down we knew that we could do better, so I’m glad we showed that in the last game against Boca,” the 28-year-old reflected.

A world away from some of the multi-millionaire professionals they faced at the Club World Cup, Auckland City’s squad comprises real estate agents, other teachers, soda salesmen and a barber.

A typical day for Christian can begin at around 6:30 a.m. and end after 9 p.m. once teaching duties, coaching the school’s senior soccer squad and his own training and fitness are taken care of. As a player, he’s overcome much along the way, including foot and hip injuries as well as vertigo last year. Missing out on the Club World Cup though was simply not an option.

“A lot of the boys and I have taken unpaid leave to travel, and saying that, we’re fortunate to have these opportunities. I think all the hard work and sacrifice, paid off, I think it’s fair to say,” he said.

The total prize money at this year’s newly revamped 32-team Club World Cup is $1 billion. By qualifying for the tournament and securing a draw against Boca Juniors, Auckland earned over $4.5 million, yet it remains to be seen to what extent the club itself will benefit from a boost in finances.

“We don’t know. Currently there is a dispute between our club and New Zealand Football on the subject,” Auckland City General Manager Gordon Watson told CNN Sports. “I don’t have a crystal ball, unfortunately, so I can’t provide a satisfying answer to your question.”

New Zealand Football told CNN in a statement: “While the exact amounts are commercially sensitive, a portion of the FIFA Club World Cup prize money goes to Auckland City FC and an amount is also allocated to support the sustainability of clubs in our National League system.”

One thing Watson does take immense pride in is the resilience and dedication of the team and its players, whatever the future holds for the club.

“99 percent of players and clubs on this planet are amateur, and we felt that in many ways we represented all of them. This has been our message ever since we qualified. It looks unlikely that we will be back due to the changes in football in Oceania – the advent of the OFC Pro League – so it was vital that we gave the best account of ourselves as possible,” he said.

As for Gray’s history-making goal?

“Firstly, Christian is such an understated person, the attention he’s garnered must be uncomfortable for him to a degree. That said, what else can you say about the quality and bravery of the goal itself? It was a tremendous header. We’re all very proud of him.”

“We were favorites to finish 32nd out of 32, but there were five professional clubs that each finished below us, which when you think of their resources versus ours, is incredible. The profile of the club is now at an all-time high and I hope we can take the opportunity to grow even further from it,” Watson added.

As for Gray, he says he’s dedicating his goal to the wider Auckland City FC community and all who support the team. And keep this in mind: We could well be hearing his name mentioned for years to come. After all, not only are his exploits against Boca Juniors sure to live long in the memory, they’re also worthy of trivia nights too.

“I mean, it’s cool, to be honest. I actually quite like that. I love my pub quizzes and, I guess, sports knowledge. So, to have my name as one of them, potentially, it would be pretty cool!”

London
CNN
 — 

Organizers of this year’s Wimbledon have said a ball boy caused the latest error with the electronic system that has replaced the traditional line umpires at this year’s tournament.

The incident occurred in Tuesday’s quarterfinal between American Taylor Fritz and Russian Karen Khachanov. With Fritz serving in the fourth set, the system called “fault” mid-point, forcing umpire Louise Azemar-Engzell to intervene.

After making a phone call, Azemar-Engzell asked for the point to be replayed “due to a malfunction.”

In a statement to CNN Sports on Wednesday, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) said the electronic system had not recognized the start of the point.

“The player’s service motion began while the BBG (ball boys and girls) was still crossing the net and therefore the system didn’t recognise the start of the point,” it said. “As such the Chair Umpire instructed the point be replayed.”

Replays show the ball boy retrieving a stray ball on the court as Fritz – who ended up winning the match 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4) to make the semifinals – wound up to serve. He was back in position, though, by the time the American made contact with the ball.

It comes after the AELTC apologized for another blunder in a match on Sunday, when the electronic system was turned off by mistake during Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s fourth-round win against Sonay Kartal on Centre Court.

During the first set, a backhand from Kartal went long but there was no “out” call from the electronic system. Pavlyuchenkova, who was one point away from winning that game, stopped playing with the ball landing outside the court.

Umpire Nico Helwerth called for the match to be paused, while the automated system said “stop, stop,” leading to confusion from both players and the fans in attendance.

The automated system did not pick up on balls landing out on three occasions in the match, with Helwerth calling the other two.

Organizers blamed “human error” for that controversy and have since altered the way the system works.

Human line judges had long been an iconic facet of Wimbledon, but organizers announced in October that the electronic calling system would be introduced at future tournaments.

The shift is in line with the rest of the tennis world – the ATP and WTA Tours have adopted the system, as have the Australian and US Opens. Roland Garros remains the only grand slam competition to use human line judges for “out” and “fault” calls.

The reaction from players at Wimbledon has been mixed, with some growing frustrated by the lack of the system’s accuracy in its tournament debut.

British players Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu, for instance, have both expressed their doubts about the system, with Raducanu calling it “dodgy.”

CNN
 — 

João Pedro scored twice, just six days after signing for Chelsea, as his new team booked its spot in the FIFA Club World Cup final with a 2-0 victory over Fluminense at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday.

Pedro opened the scoring just 18 minutes into his first start, curling home from just outside the box.

The Brazilian then doubled Chelsea’s lead in the 56th minute as his powerful effort clipped the bar and went into the Fluminense net to cap off a swift counterattack.

Chelsea will now face either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s final, with the two European giants playing in the tournament’s other semifinal on Wednesday.

After the game, Pedro called his two-goal debut for Chelsea a “dream first start.”

“I don’t think it could’ve been better,” the 23-year-old said. “I’m very happy. I want to help the team. I knew I could score today, and that’s what I did. The team controlled the game today, did really well today and now we’re focused on the final.

“I think we have a great team, great players and it’s a pleasure to play with them. I think this season can be a great season for us.”

Pedro completed his reported $82 million (£60 million) move to Chelsea from fellow Premier League team Brighton and Hove Albion last week. Last season, he scored 19 goals in all competitions to finish as Brighton’s joint-top scorer.

After signing, he was immediately added to Chelsea’s Club World Cup squad, coming off the bench in the Blues’ quarterfinal victory over Palmeiras.

The Brazilian was thrown into the starting lineup for the semifinal after the suspension of Liam Delap – another summer signing for Chelsea – ruled the Englishman out.

It had the desired effect as Pedro’s inch-perfect curled effort in the 18th minute gave Chelsea an early lead.

The goal sparked the game into life and Fluminense thought it had equalized on the 25-minute mark when Germán Cano’s poked shot looked to be heading into the goal, only for Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella to clear it off the line at the last minute.

The moment gave the Brazilian side renewed hope and it was awarded a penalty shortly afterwards for handball, only for a video assistant referee (VAR) review to result in referee François Letexier reversing his decision.

Fluminense’s pressure then kicked Chelsea into gear offensively, with Pedro getting his second of the game when his rifled effort slammed off the bar and into the back of the net.

After both his goals, Pedro raised his hands aloft in a sign of respect, having started his career at both the youth and senior levels at Fluminense.

Pedro stressed the place the Rio-based club still holds in his heart after the victory.

“I’ve got mixed feelings,” Pedro told FIFA. “I apologize for the two goals. This is my job. I’m sad to see some of the players I played alongside, some of the staff I know upset. Seeing their sadness is difficult because I know this was their dream.

“I’m sorry, but the Fluminense fans know how much I love the club. I hope to return to Fluminense one day. I can’t predict the future, but I hope we see each other again.”

Pedro has started life as a Chelsea player emphatically and could win his first piece of silverware with his new team in Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

After the game, Blues manager Enzo Maresca expressed his pride at his team’s performances at the tournament.

“We are very happy and very proud to play the final,” the Italian said. “The reason why is that this is the Club World Cup, the best clubs in the world are here. So for us to be there (in the final) on Sunday is something we have to be proud and happy about.”