Keep The Balloons In The Stands, Folks

Here is one of the weirder goals you'll ever see scored in a soccer match.

Sunderland beat my boys from Liverpool last Saturday, 1-0. I caught the second half of the match on the Fox Soccer Channel, but I missed the goal in the 5th minute. It was scored by Darren Bent, and it was assisted by a balloon (or a beach ball, take your pick), which was tossed on the field moments earlier by some Sunderland fan. (It had to be as there were nothing but Sunderland fans behind the goal.)

Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina was clearly distracted when the soccer ball connected to the balloon, as you can see in the video. The referee should have called a dead ball for the interference, but no call was made. And he was demoted for not making the proper call. Boy, what a rotten way to lose your fourth match in nine games this season.

Come on Liverpool! Still a long way to go. Don't let beach balls get in the way of Premiership title dreams!