One hundred and eighty-seven goals in two matches of football: it’s possible in Sierra Leone. In the battle for the first division playoffs, Gulf FC and Kahunla Rangers tried to outdo each other’s goal difference on several fields — equal in points. Unfortunately for Gulf FC, the 91-1 victory over Koguima Lebanon was just not enough, as Kahunla Rangers defeated Lumbenbu United 95-0.
At halftime Gulf FC was still on roses: it went into the locker room with a 10-0 lead. With Kahunla not giving home to Rangers and leading only 2-0, qualification seemed imminent. But everything changed after a tactical conversion that can only be translated into all or nothing.
It turned out to be everything: in the last 45 minutes, Kahunla Rangers scored no fewer than ninety-three times, more than two goals per minute. A matter of scoring quickly, getting the ball out of the net, running to the halfway line and especially not making substitutions or trying to build up from the back. Gulf FC was trumped, for example, which scored ‘only’ eighty-one times in the second half.
Apologies
According to Sierra Leonean media the arbiter decided to walk off the field during the Gulf FC game in the second half. The national football association does not trust the ‘unachievable’ results and goes researching match fixing† The director of Kahunla Rangers said sorry tuesday for the “strange” result of his club.
Only once in football history have Sierra Leonean goal tally been surpassed when Madagascar’s AS Adema beat SO l’Emyrne 149-0 — still a world record. Small side note: SO l’Emyrne players deliberately scored in their own goal, in protest against earlier decisions by the referee.