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FTA - Navy Blues goal heroes

Words: ACFC Media

Wednesday 28 December 2016

Picture: FIFA via Getty Images

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - We take a look back at the Navy Blues goalscoring exploits at the FIFA Club World Cup and rank our favourite strikes from 1-10.

Auckland City FC first qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup back in 2005 and since then the club has been present at eight of the global showpieces.

In that time the club has scored 10 goals and here we rank them in order of quality.

Do you agree with our selection?

Auckland City FC - Top 10 international goals

1. Auckland City FC 2-0 Al-Ahli - Chad Coombes (2009)
No doubt about the quality here as Chad Coombes unleashes an outstanding left foot shot from 35 metres out. This goal put the Navy Blues 2-0 up against Al-Ahli and all but guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals with Club America of CONCACAF. Auckland City FC then become the first team from Oceania (read 'New Zealand', as well) to win a game at the tournament, the first Oceania team to score two goals in one game at the tournament and only the second Oceania team to finish fifth (Sydney FC managed fifth in 2005).

2. San Lorenzo 2-1 Auckland City FC - Angel Berlanga (2014)
If you're a Navy Blues fan you'll never ever forget this moment - a lovely threaded pass by Emiliano Tade for Ryan De Vries to run onto, he's bundled over by the goalkeeper (penalty and a red card, maybe?) the referee plays an advantage for Auckland City FC and Angel Berlanga steams in from the right to finish from an ever decreasing angle as defenders scramble back in panic. This made it 1-1 and set the game up for extra-time. Sadly for Auckland City FC, San Lorenzo eventually won 2-1.

3. Cruz Azul 1-1 Auckland City FC - Ryan De Vries (2014)
The third place match in Marrakech would prove to be the Navy Blues greatest night on the world stage and when Ryan De Vries latched onto an Emiliano Tade pass, beat his marker then the goalkeeper, dreams of a bronze medal finish were coming to fruition. Cruz Azul equalised late to take the game to a penalty shoot-out which thanks to saves by Jacob Spoonley and a deadly finish by Sanni Issa, was enough to capture the finish fans all over the globe craved.

4. TP Mazembe 2-3 Auckland City FC - Riki van Steeden (2009)
Former All Whites utility man Riki van Steeden scored this absolute peach in the Navy Blues 3-2 win over African champions TP Mazembe. A lovely move that involved four Auckland City FC players, a powerful low shot tucked into the corner and the Navy Blues claimed an historic fifth place finish.

5. Kashima Antlers 2-1 Auckland City FC - Dae Wook Kim (2016)
An historic goal by Dae Wook Kim sent pulses racing as he became the first Navy Blues player to score against a J.League winning team in four attempts. The free-kick taken by Emiliano Tade was inch perfect as it took out the first marker allowing Kim to beat his man and steer the ball into the back of the net. With 20 minutes to go a quarter-final showdown with African champions Mamelodi Sundowns beckoned only for Antlers to net twice for a 2-1 win with less than a minute to spare.

6. TP Mazembe 2-3 Auckland City FC - Jason Hayne (2009)
Jason Hayne's finish is nothing short of brilliant. The TP Mazembe goalkeeper makes a brave save in the first instance against Grant Young but Hayne is in the right place at the right time and applies a brilliant left foot vollied finish from the edge of the penalty box and into the roof of the net. More of Hayne shortly.

7. ES Setif 0-1 Auckland City FC - John Irving (2014)
Former Everton and Bala Town defender John Irving was superb during the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014 and when he went up for this corner then executed a lovely drag back and shot for the winning goal, Navy Blues supporters everywhere prepared themselves for a first ever semi-final showdown with the South American champions San Lorenzo of Argentina. An important goal that could easily have featured higher up this list for its sheer importance not to mention the additional prize money for the club and New Zealand Football.

8. Al-Ahli 0-2 Auckland City FC - Adam Dickinson (2009)
Auckland City FC's first ever goal at a Club World Cup was scored by Adam Dickinson. Jason Hayne outpaced the Al-Ahli defence on the left then whipped in a superb cross that beat both centre-halves and allowed Dickinson to get a controlled shot off his shin beyond the goalkeeper and into the roof of the net. It was some goal and would open the floodgates for future Auckland City FC teams to follow.

9. Raja Casablanca 2-1 Auckland City FC - Roy Krishna (2013)
Fiji international Roy Krishna pounced on this defensive blunder by Raja Casablanca before racing clear of the Moroccan's defence before applying a brilliant controlled finish low to the left of the onrushing goalkeeper. Auckland City FC were firmly back in the match but the hosts were able to nick the tie with virtually the last kick of the game. Ironically, like Kashima Antlers, they would go on to reach the final where they were beaten 2-0 by Bayern Munich.

10. TP Mazembe 2-3 Auckland City FC - Jason Hayne (2009)
The only player to feature on this list twice for his goalscoring prowess, Jason Hayne will not have enjoyed a more easy goal than this. A long hopeful ball cast forward lured the TP Mazembe goalkeeper off his line and when he missed the ball and clipped Hayne instead, all Hayne had to do was keep his body steady then trundle the ball into an empty net. TP Mazembe would go on to lose the match and finish the game with just 10 men. Interestingly, a year later, TP Mazembe reached the Club World Cup final where they were beaten 3-0 by Italian giants Inter Milan in Abu Dhabi.

Ends