On Sunday, we told you about Micronesia's 38-0 loss to Fiji in soccer, the largest loss in international soccer history. We also warned you that because of the format of the competition, the third team to play Micronesia, Vanuatu, would be forced to try and score at least 38 goals in hopes of advancing out of its group and qualifying for the Olympics.
SURE ENOUGH!
FT: Vanuatu 46-0 Micronesia. This cool dude is Jean Kaltack, who scored 16 goals pic.twitter.com/jeiSE1B9ji
— Kevin Darling (@darlingkevin) July 7, 2015
Journalist Kevin Darling was at the game, chronicling the sadness as Vanuatu whipped Micronesia, a nation playing in their first-ever tournament who couldn't field a full 23-man roster:
There's outright laughter from the Vanuatu bench about some of Micronesia's play. FSM coach Stan Foster shouts "Oh no" as 8th goal flies in.
— Kevin Darling (@darlingkevin) July 7, 2015
Eventually Micronesia subbed in a midfielder at goalie:
Midfielder Dominic Hadad is playing in goal again. First-choice keeper nowhere to be seen #Micronesia pic.twitter.com/OWJmdqhNVG
— Kevin Darling (@darlingkevin) July 7, 2015
The scorekeeper was frazzled:
There's an empty desk where the official scorer was sitting. Nervous breakdown? THINK it's Vanuatu 32-0 Micronesia. pic.twitter.com/VHTEXtqAAZ
— Kevin Darling (@darlingkevin) July 7, 2015
It's mayhem here. Scorerkeeper left his desk and now no one knows exact score. Vanuatu have at least 42. One guy scored 14 of them.
— Kevin Darling (@darlingkevin) July 7, 2015
Micronesia's coach admitted after the game that many of his players had never been on a full soccer field or left their island.
Sadly, the whooping was for naught. Tahiti tied Fiji in the last game of the tournament, giving them seven and five points, meaning that although Vanuatu had the best goal differential of anybody in the group, their four points weren't enough.
Micronesia isn't affiliated with FIFA, so the record for the largest win in a FIFA match belongs to Australia for their 31-0 victory over American Samoa.
★★★
SB Nation video archives: When sports go horribly wrong (2012)