FSM concedes 68 goals in two matches

PORT MORESBY – Fiji has recorded one of the biggest ever wins in international soccer with a 38-0 thrashing of Federated States of Micronesia at the Pacific Games in Port Moresby.

The Fijians had a big score in their sights from kickoff, motivated by Micronesia’s 30-0 loss to Tahiti in an earlier match.

Fiji took a 21-0 lead into halftime, prompting Micronesia to replace goalkeeper Walter Pengelbew with outfield player Dominic Gadad in an attempt to stem the tide.

Though Gadad fared slightly better than his predecessor he still conceded another 17 goals after the break.

“Their players have experience and skills, but we will keep training and training,” Gadad said. “We will come back to the next Pacific Games and win.”

Micronesia’s coach Australian Stan Foster said his team was expecting a tough game.

“We’re here for development purposes mainly and I’m just trying to keep the guys upbeat,” he said.

“I just wanted the guys to keep fighting all the way through the game so they knew that when they came off they tried their hardest.

“It doesn’t matter what the score is, I told them that before we even started.

“I told them to take any little bits of information off the field that they can and take them back to their islands.”

Organisers said it was the biggest win in international football history, eclipsing the record set in 2001 when Australia beat American Samoa 31-0.

But the result is unlikely to go into the record books because Micronesia is not a FIFA member and the tournament is for under 23 teams, rather than open aged.