French football team ship 20 goals after goalkeeper legs it to look after calving cow

We suspect AS Marly Gomont would have lost anyway but at least they had a novel excuse

A French club side has shot into the international sporting headlines after drafting in their 61-year-old president Alain Bragheri when their goalkeeper had to scoot off after 25 minutes. The club were already trailing 5-0 when the goalkeeper received word that one of his cows was calving. The stretched Marly Gomont team recruited their president from the sidelines and went on to ship 16 more goals to rivals Tupigny without reply. The story of the 20-0 thrashing and the goalkeeper/farmer with a healthy calf was featured in newspapers, websites and television stations across France. There was increased focus on the club, last weekend, as they took on title-chasing Clary Michel. The club drafted in a new goalkeeper, Ludovic Landat, but injuries again imposed on team selection. Indeed, Marly Gomont coach Alain Tourneux was forced to name himself among the substitutes. Landat gave away a second-half penalty but, according to the team's website, performed admirably amid a flurry of chances. The final scoreline was a much more respectable 10-0. The calf, by all reports, is doing well. Hat-tip to 101greatgoals