| Archie Thompson |
Article Index for Archie |
Website Links For Archie |
Information AboutArchie Thompson |
Archibald Gerald "Archie" Thompson (born October 23 , 1978 in Otorohanga , New Zealand ) is an Australia n Football (soccer) player, currently playing for the Melbourne Victory in the Australia n A-League , where he holds the all time scoring record for the competition. His father is a Pakeha New Zealander and his mother is from Papua New Guinea . PROFESSIONAL CAREER Archie Thompson began his career in Bathurst , playing there in the 1995-1996 season. He then moved to play for Gippsland Falcons between 1996 and 1999. After the collapse of Gippsland Falcons, he played a season for Carlton S.C. from 1999 to 2000. He spent 2001 with Marconi Stallions , before making a big break in 2001 in signing with Belgium 's Lierse SK . He returned to his home country to play for Melbourne Victory in 2005 (the inaugural A-League season), scoring the team's first ever regular season goal. After superb performances with Melbourne Victory, he was the only A-League based player in the Australian National Team 's qualification matches against Uruguay for a berth in the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals. With the A-League season finishing in March and a four month gap between then and Australia's first World Cup group match, Thompson was approached in late 2005 join , Bobby Despotovski and Stewart Petrie . Thompson made just two appearances for PSV as a substitute. He was informed by the club that they would not be signing him to a further deal, and so he returned to Melbourne Victory for the A-League 2006-07 season. Thompson was a member of Australia's squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but did not play in a match in the finals. In August 2006, he was appointed vice-captain for the Asian Cup qualifiers against Kuwait. Resuming with Melbourne Victory in domestic football, Thompson formed a deadly partnership in the second season of the A-League with strike partner Danny Allsopp , who both benefited from the attacking skills of Brazil ian midfielder Fred . Their quality forward play lead Melbourne to become both Premiers and Champions of the A-League In 2006-07 . Thompson starred in the 2007 A-League Grand Final on February 18 , 2007 , scoring 5 goals and helping Melbourne Victory to a 6-0 thrashing of rivals Adelaide United . In becoming the first player to score more than 3 goals in an A-League match, Thompson exceeded his own expectations, predicting before the game that he would get a Hat Trick . For his efforts, Thompson was awarded the Joe Marston Medal as the Man of the Match. Thompson came off the bench in Australia's 2-0 friendly win against China (a warm up for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup ). Thompson featured in only one appearance during the Asian Cup, coming on as a substitute during Australia's defeat to eventual winners Iraq . GOAL SCORING WORLD RECORD Thompson set the world record for goals scored in an international match on April 11 , 2001 , when Australia played American Samoa in Coffs Harbour in a qualifier for the 2002 World Cup . Australia won 31-0 (the score was originally reported as 32-0 as the scorekeepers lost count). Thompson, who was not Australia's first choice striker, scored 13 of the Australian goals. Thompson was not picked for the Socceroos next match against Fiji by coach Frank Farina . Thompson's feat was helped by playing in a team of well-drilled professionals, even though they were not Australia's first choice team, and playing against one of the world's weakest national football teams. The mismatch was such that the qualifying system was changed for the 2006 qualification campaign so that Australia (and other relative powers) did not face such weak teams. The 13 goals broke the record of 10 shared by Denmark 's Sophus "Krølben" Nielsen in a 17-1 win against France at the 1908 Olympics and Germany 's Gottfried Fuchs in a 16-0 win against Russia in the 1912 Olympics . This equalled the record for the most goals scored in a recognised senior tournament, set in 1885 when John Petrie scored 13 goals in a Scottish Cup tie. TRIVIA
REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
|
|
|