Footballers from Austrian team, ATV Irdning thought their dreams had come true as they got to play English Premier League club Everton in a pre-season friendly, but there was nothing pleasant about the fixture.
A month out from the start of the new season, Everton went all guns blazing as they slaughtered the seventh division Austrian team 22-0 on Sunday morning (NZ time).
The Toffees led 6-0 after just 17 minutes and 10-0 at half-time, with 12 further goals coming after the break despite a raft of changes in Marco Silva's first game in charge of the Toffees.
Everton's biggest-ever recorded win was 14-0 twice - against New Ferry in the Liverpool Senior Cup in 1885 and then against Notts Rangers in a friendly in 1890
Two moments from the fixture stood out, and they both involved Irdning's goalkeeper.
The first saw one of Irdning's defender's chip his keeper from outside the box in the 81st minute.
Three minutes later Nikola Vlasic scored the easiest goal of his career when the Irdning keeper simply turned his back as Everton slotted an inevitable 20th goal.
You can't blame them for doing so as his team were down by so many.
Irdning is in the Liezen state and has a total population of 2749.
Everton opens their Premier League season on August 13 when they face the newly promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Newshub.
