Lea'alafa, Kaltack meet Fernando Torres
HONG KONG, China - Auckland City FC's journey to the Tonghai Financial Chinese New Year Cup took a surreal turn at the official welcome in Hong Kong as the team met Spanish legend Fernando Torres.
The 34-year-old former Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Liverpool and Spain international won 110 caps and scored 38 goals for his country, winning the UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup and two Euros, in a glittering career that continues with Sagan Tosu FC.
Auckland City FC sit on the other side of the draw and face another former FIFA World Cup star in Marouane Fellaini when they take on Shandong Luneng Taishan FC on Tuesday.
The winner advances to the final where they meet either Torres' Sagan Tosu or a Hong Kong League XI.
OFFICIAL WELCOME - #NavyBlues welcomed to Hong Kong for Lunar Cup
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) February 3, 2019
"We are excited to be at the Tonghai Financial Chinese New Year Cup and have received a very warm welcome. We can't wait to get started" - Brian Kaltack
#LunarCup
#NavyBlues
https://t.co/qHdojbBcnJ pic.twitter.com/SLbZg88owM
Auckland City FC's Oceania duo of Brian Kaltack and Micah Lea'alafa are both known for their pace on the field of play but quickly matched that off it when it came to meeting Torres at the official opening ceremony.
Kaltack has played 10 matches for Auckland City FC since joining the club from Tasman United but was beside himself when he came face to face with football royalty.
"Meeting Fernando Torres was an amazing experience. He's won everything in football and is a superstar everyone around the world knows.
"We are excited to be at the Tonghai Financial Chinese New Year Cup and have received a very warm welcome. We can't wait to get started and we're looking forward to facing Shandong Luneng Taishan FC tomorrow," he said.
Lea'alafa has been at three FIFA Club World Cups with the Navy Blues and is used to rubbing shoulders with the occasional big name opponent but Torres was another level.
OFFICIAL WELCOME - #NavyBlues welcomed to Hong Kong for Lunar Cup
— Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) February 3, 2019
"Fernando Torres was a legend at Liverpool and for Spain and it was great experience to meet a player of his stature.' - Micah Lea'alafa
#ACvSL
#LunarCup
#NavyBlues
https://t.co/qHdojbBcnJ pic.twitter.com/EuTrEYyXXt
"Fernando Torres was a legend at Liverpool and for Spain and it's a great experience to meet a player of his stature in the game.
"We've been welcomed warmly by tournament organisers and we want to represent ourselves, the club and New Zealand to the highest standard we can."
Auckland City FC's first match in the Tonghai Financial Chinese New Year Cup is on Tuesday 5 February 2019 when they take on Shandong Luneng Taishan FC.
The match kicks off at 9pm NZST.
Ends
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Table
| Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | AC | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 7 | 18 |
| 2 |  | WS | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 | 18 |
| 3 |  | BU | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 13 |
| 4 |  | ES | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 12 |
| 5 |  | BO | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
| 6 |  | MN | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 10 |
| 7 |  | AU | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 9 |
| 8 |  | TC | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 19 | 6 |
| 9 |  | MU | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 3 |
| 10 |  | WR | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 2 |
| 11 |  | EB | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 2 |
| 12 |  | HW | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 18 | 2 |
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