Make I ask you — how many goals you don see person score for one match before? 3? 4? E sweet when you see hat-trick abi? But wait make you hear tori of Archie Thompson — one baller wey score 13 goals for just one match. No be friendly o. Na FIFA World Cup qualifying match!
You go begin reason say, “Na cheat? Abi na PlayStation dem dey play?”
No worry, make TPB break down the most insane goal rain wey don ever happen for international football history.
The Match: Australia vs American Samoa – April 11, 2001
The stage na 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Oceania zone.
Venue na Coffs Harbour Stadium, Australia.
Opponents? Australia vs American Samoa
Nobody expect say match go be balanced sha — American Samoa na small island country with few players. But even that, nobody ever reason say e go end 31–0
Yes o. Na 31 goals Australia score that day. And one man, Archie Thompson, come alone collect 13 out of those goals. Abeg, who give am ginger water?
Who Be Archie Thompson?
Archie Thompson na Australian striker wey play for Melbourne Victory for club level and represent Australia for international games.
Him no be the most popular name like Messi or CR7, but on this day, na him be god of goals. Every small ball wey touch him leg, na net straight. The guy no show pity.
Imagine goalkeeper just dey dive like fish for dry land. Ball just dey enter from left, right, up, down. Na real massacre!
Wetin Happen to American Samoa?
Their problem no be only size. That day, dem no fit use many of their regular players because of passport wahala. So the team wey come play Australia na mostly teenagers and inexperienced players.
In fact, their goalkeeper that day — Nicky Salapu — later talk say na the worst day of his life. The poor guy try, but ball too much. He say e no go ever forget that humiliation.
But give dem small credit — dem still play full 90 mins. Some teams go fake injury run
Records Wey Break That Day
That match no be normal. E break plenty FIFA records:
- Most goals by one team in World Cup qualifier – 31
- Most goals by one player in a FIFA match – 13 (Archie Thompson)
- Biggest goal margin for international match
Even Guinness World Records recognize am.
That day be like say Australia just come training — but na World Cup Qualifier!
People Dey Vex? Or Na Fair Game?
After the match, plenty people dey argue say:
- “Why FIFA go allow teams like American Samoa face countries like Australia?”
- “E no fair. Na bullying.”
Na from there FIFA begin look how to restructure qualifiers, especially for Oceania zone. Because e no make sense make pikin country go face football giants like kangaroo warriors
Final Whistle
Till today, nobody don beat that 13-goal record. Even Messi and Ronaldo never near am for official FIFA match.
Archie Thompson go forever be the guy wey use 13 goals show us say football fit turn to wrestling without red card.
Na so e be. If dem ever ask you who score pass for one match — just shout:
ARCHIE THOMPSON, 13 GOALS, 2001. Case closed!