A defence-splitting pass from substitute Curtis Jones finding Mo Salah on the right of Liverpool’s attack. The Egyptian cutting through Manchester United’s wobbly back- 4 like a “hot knife through butter” slips a fine ball in behind Roberto Firmino, who initially took the ball far wide – something of a relief for Man United fans. Swiveling, the Brazilian tucks a fine finish past Diogo Dalot, who surprisingly was on the goal line. 7-0 the scoreline read. Erik ten Haag had nowhere to look, Captain Bruno Fernandes had his head buried in shame, and Anfield’s pent-up euphoria had finally erupted like a volcano. They had just witnessed their biggest win against their arch-rivals Manchester United.
A scoreline both teams could only picture in their wildest imaginations. The bookmakers did not even offer odds on a 7-0 Liverpool victory and every Man United supporter left Merseyside shaking their head, wondering if they would ever wake up from this nightmare they had just witnessed.
Riding on the wave of recent annihilation meted to Manchester United at Anfield, we will be running you through five jaw-dropping football scorelines you will never believe ever happened.
A.S Adema 149-0 Stade Olympique L’Emyrne (2002)
There has never been a higher-scoring game in the history of football than this infamous result on October 31, 2002.
The event that unfolded that evening in the Madagascan National Football Championship till date holds the Guinness record for the match with the most number of goals in world football history. But how did we arrive at this hilarious scoreline? What could have gone wrong on the night for Stade Olympique L’Emyrne?
The backstory to this occurrence goes as follows. L’Emyrne faced Antananarivo in the penultimate game of the THB Champions League, a domestic competition in the African Island. Stade Olympique L’Emyrneknew full well that anything other than a victory would mean they would be out of the title race. As the game approached full-time, Antananarivo were awarded a highly contentious penalty by referee Benjamina Razafintsalam, which was subsequently converted.
The decision by the referee to award the spot kick angered both the players and the management of Stade Olympique L’Emyrne.
Fully incensed and fuming at the referee’s decision that caused them their shot at the championship, it was reported that an argument between officials, players, and the management of L’Emyrne preceded kick-off in their clash against A.S Adema, with claims of refereeing bias being the bone of contention.
In a protest orchestrated by then manager, Ratsimandresy Ratsarazaka, Stade Olympique L’Emyrne demonstrated their dismay by deliberately scoring own goals. Much to the bemusement of the Adema players, they failed to touch the ball again for the remainder of the match, with the visitors repeatedly kicking the ball back toward their goalkeeper. Own goals were the order of the rest of the match to the surprise of everyone.
What followed this horrible occurrence was sanctions. The Football authorities accused Stade Olympique L’Emyrne’s coach Ratsimandresy Ratsarazaka of orchestrating the debacle from the stands, he was suspended for three years and banned from visiting stadiums for the same period. Stade Olympique L’Emyrne goalkeeper Mamisoa Razafindrakoto, Captain Manitranirina Andrianiaina, and players Nicolas Rakotoarimanana and Dominique Rakotonandrasana were suspended until the end of the 2002 season and banned from stadiums for the same period. All other players, from both Stade Olympique L’Emyrne and AS Adema, received a warning and threats of more serious action should they commit further offences.
Plateau United Feeders 79-0 Akurba (2013)
An event that today remains one of the most horrendous scandals that rocked Nigerian football. In Nigeria’s Nationwide League Division third (NLO) qualification play-off round, four teams including Plateau United Feeders, Akubra FC, Police Machine, and Babayaro FC were reported to have been involved in match-fixing scandals.After scoring seven goals against Akurba in the first half, Nigerian club Plateau United Feeders ended up shaking Akurba’s net a further 72 times by full-time. This unbelievable result left the player on both sides permanently suspended by the Nigerian Football Federation. Statistically, it is said that Plateau United Feeders scored their second-half goals at a rate of about one goal every 40 seconds for 45 minutes.
Police Machine 67-0 Babayaro (2013)
Another sham of a football game that took place simultaneously alongside the match between Plateau United Feeders and Akuba in the same NLO playoff division. The event that unfolded saw Police Machine FC score 67 goals against Babayaro FC, 61 of which were allegedly scored in the second half – one which many deemed was a response to the scoreline of the Plateau United Feeders vs. Akurba game.
In theory, Plateau United Feeders won promotion to the big leagues having scored 81 goals – in three games. Police Machine ultimately could manage only 69. Plateau United Feeders and Police Machines both won their opening games 2-0, then drew 0-0 when they met in the second round, leaving their chances for promotion to goal difference and this quest for goals they took to an extraordinary height, which eventually secured them the obvious –a suspension and a match-fixing investigation.
Australia 31–0 American Samoa (2001)
Australia were dubbed, alongside New Zealand, as one of the strongest teams in the Oceania continent. The aforementioned teams were the only nations to have ever won the Oceania Cup, and also the only two teams to ever make it to the World Cup finals: Australia in 1974 and New Zealand, in 1982.
Facing one of the weakest teams in the world in American Samoa, who had lost every game they had played since joining football’s governing body FIFA in 1998, many predicted a victory for the Socceroos, but not many predicted Australia setting a record for the greatest victory in International football’s history.
Before the match, Australia ranked 75th and American Samoa ranked 203rd- the lowest on the FIFA ranking at the time.
This unbalanced proficiency and dearth of quality opponents in the Oceanian region was responsible for Australia moving to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.
Brazil 1-7 Germany (2014)
Brazil’s 1-7 defeat to Germany in the 2014 World Cup semi-final remains one of the most memorable football games in the history of the World Cup and for many one the most humiliating in the football history of the Samba country.
July 8th at the Mineirão Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil saw host and tournament favourite Brazil “taken to the cleaners.” A pitiable performance by the host nation to the extent that German defender, Matt Hummels revealed his side decided to take their foot off the pedal in the second half, after scoring a whopping five goals in a 29-minute span in the first half.
Germany’s 7–1 win over Brazil in this match holds the record for the highest winning margin in a World Cup semi-final game in all its history and also the worst loss by a host country. This match was also the biggest defeat in the Selecao’s rich history.
Although the hosts were without star forward Neymar Jr, Brazilian football fans entered the tournament with great expectations for this squad to bring the trophy home, Brazil aren’t unfamiliar to surprises, but it is safe to say that none envisioned them conceding seven times in a semifinal game.
