2002 World Cup - Australia 31 American Samoa 0

Australia set their second world scoring record in three days with a 31-0 win over American Samoa in their Oceania group one World Cup qualifying zone with striker Archie Thompson scoring 13 goals.

The 31-0 winning margin is now the biggest score ever in international football.

The score was originally given at the end of the game as 32-0 but reporters lost count.

The 16-0 margin at the end of the first forty-five minute session was itself a record and agents will be fighting to sign up American Samoa's goalkeeper to turn him into a junk television celebrity after the match.

Marconi Stallions striker Thompson now holds the record for goal scoring in an international after his 13 goals.

The previous individual scoring record was 10 goals in an international from Sofus Nielsen of Denmark and Gottfried Fuchs of Germany.

Nielsen scored 10 when Denmark beat France in the 1908 Olympic Games with Fuchs hitting 10 when Germany beat Russia in the 1912 Olympics.

The Coffs Harbour game saw Australia lead the weakest team in world football by 16-0 as they chased a new record after hammering Tonga on Monday in a 22-0 rout that set the new record for international goal scoring.

They set the new record with Thompson's 11th goal of the match in the 65th minute to make the score 23-0.

Australia have now scored 53 goals without reply in two days which must be a record in itself.

For once the FIFA world rankings proved accurate.

American Samoa are ranked last at number 203 and they did little to deserve a place in a World Cup qualifying section with this showing.

The game degenerated into a circus-like freak show after the first few minutes and such spectacles have no place in what is meant to be the elite competition of the world game.

New world record holder Archie Thompson of Marconi Stallions scored eight goals in the first half with David Zdrilic hitting four. Tony Popovic scored twice with other goals for Con Boutsianis and Aurelio Vidmar. Zdrilic and Popovic added more goals in the second half.

Australia coach Frank Farina left out many of Australia's top stars who are on duty with European clubs at the moment.

This meant no Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka or captain Paul Okon and Coventry were upset by the call-up for Aloisi - who scored six times on Monday - as they are in a battle against relegation.

The winners of Oceania zone group one, which also includes Samoa, Fiji and American Samoa, will meet the winners of group two in a two leg play off in June.

The winners of that play off face a further game in November against the fifth place team in the South American qualifying group for a place in next year's finals in Japan and South Korea.