Canadian makes million-dollar kick

TORONTO (AFP) - A 25-year-old Canadian mechanical engineer kicked a 50-yard field goal at half-time of a Canadian Football League game to win one million dollars Cdn (850,000 USD) in a contest here Thursday night.

Brian Diesbourg had been chosen randomly from 200,000 entries in the sponsor promotion that gave one lucky fan a chance to kick the ball through the goalposts like professional players in the North American football league.

So far this season, kickers for the nine Canadian Football League clubs have been successful in only 5-of-11 field goal attempts from beyond 50 yards.

Diesbourg, who had a 30-minute practice session with the kicker for the host Toronto Argonauts on Wednesday, missed attempts from 20, 30 and 40 yards away for lesser prizes.

But Diesbourg nailed his last kick before 40,000 screaming fans at half-time of Toronto's 34-11 victory over Hamilton.

Diesbourg, who said he has never played Canadian football, told reporters he plays in a senior men's soccer league and can kick the soccer ball the length of the field.

Diesbourg will receive the prize in 40 annual installments of 25,000 dollars Cdn (21,000 USD).