How a 31-0 'farce' helped change Australian football

When the Socceroos defeated American Samoa 31-0 in a World Cup qualifier in 2001, the freak result not only rewrote the record books but also helped change the course of Australian football.

The lop-sided scoreline, still football's biggest win at senior international level, was greeted with frustration rather than jubilation in Australian footballing circles.

It renewed Australia's determination to shift from the Oceania Football Confederation to the stronger Asian grouping, offering the chance of direct qualification to the World Cup.

The match itself, played before a crowd of 2,500 in Coffs Harbour, had the air of a ritual slaughter well before kick-off.

Australia had beaten Tonga 22-0 to set a goal-scoring record days before, and American Samoa were rated the worst team in the world at 203 in the FIFA rankings.

Worse still, the Pacific minnows could not field most of their senior players due to eligibility issues, and were forced to put out a team with an average age of just 18.

"Frightened is not the word," coach Tunoa Lui said, before his novice side faced Australia's hardened professionals.

"We are going to ask for help from above. We are asking the Lord to help keep the score down."
- Men against boys -
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"But you have to look at the teams we are playing and start asking questions. We don't need to play these games."
- 'Final nail in coffin' -
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