A FIFTH TIER footballer scored the fastest goal in Italian football history straight from kick-off.
SC Mazarese were taking on Nissa in Italy's Eccellenza Sicily division – a league which can gain promotion to Serie D.
And their captain, Gioacchino Giardina, decided to try his luck from the first whistle.
Giardina caught the opposition goalkeeper out with a shot which took just 3.81 SECONDS to hit the back of the net.
It was a new Italian record, beating the fastest goal scored by AC Milan's Rafael Leao against Sassuolo in just 6.2 seconds.
A report in Italy says Giardina's strike missed out on beating the world record held by Scotsman Gavin Stokes, who in 2017 during Maryhill-Clydebank scored after just 2.1 seconds.
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After Giardina led by example, his Mazarese team went on to win the game against Nissa 2-1.
The 34-year-old told tuttocampo.it on his goal: "The idea to kick immediately came to me instantly, nothing prepared.
"I looked up, looked at the goalkeeper, saw that he was on the penalty spot and that he was slightly distracted.
"So I asked my partner to move and not to touch the ball and immediately after the whistle I kicked directly."
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Giardina continued: "Actually after kicking I looked up but I was dazzled by the sun.
"So I understood only from the roar of the crowd that the ball had entered the net.
"And from there I began to think I had scored a Eurogol!"
Giardina says he didn't manage to speak with Nissa's keeper after the wonder goal.
He added: "In the locker room and, even after the match, we all joked together and they showered me with compliments until late at night, while honestly I didn't get to see the opposing goalkeeper again."
Giardina also revealed that he didn't know he had broken the Italian record until friends "from all over Italy" called him.
He said: "I still think I didn't realize what I really did, also because I received a myriad of phone calls and I didn't even have time to stop and think.
"Friends from all over Italy called me, I was contacted by various newspapers, for which I am also a little dazed. But very happy!"
Fans have also been left stunned by Giardina's goal.
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One said on Reddit: "I love how the defenders react, like 'well s***'."
Another added: "Feel sorry for the keeper. Wasn't even coming out of the sun."
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