The Oceania minnows have met just once before in FIFA World Cup qualifying back in 1997 when Samoa edged the Rarotongans 2-1. The hosts will go into the match with confidence after a 1-0 win over Suva in their final hit out on Saturday.
Coach Tunoa Lui says they will look to get the Cook Islands on the back foot early.
“I think this will be the toughest match. Our approach will be to keep the ball as much as possible, to try and score early and then keep our shape.”
Lui admits his knowledge of the opposition is limited.
“We’ve only seen one video of the Cook Islands from the Pacific Games but apart from that I don’t know too much about team to be honest. But we will focus on our own game and hopefully get off to a winning start, which is crucial in this tournament.”
One of the key players for Samoa will be 27-year-old striker Desmond Fa’aiuaso, who has an international career spanning 12 years and was picked up by top New Zealand club YoungHeart Manawatu back in 2009 before returning home due to injury.
But Fa’aiuaso and the rest of Samoa’s attack will need to work hard to get the ball past goalkeeper Tony Jamieson who showed impressive form at the recent Pacific Games in Noumea. Cook Islands not only picked up international experience at “Les Jeux du Pacifique” but also tested themselves against Waitakere United and Auckland City development teams last week.
Adding to the strong preparations is the fact that they are led by an experienced coach in Shane Rufer who knows the pressures of top level football with 20 New Zealand caps to his name.
“We’ve prepared well for this game,” says Rufer. “They’ve got the home advantage and they’ll have the home support but that also brings with it a bit of pressure from their perspective so we need to take our opportunities and stamp our authority on the game.”
The Cook Islands have a poor record in qualifying tournaments, with just one win in 15 matches.
Rufer says they are looking to turn that around.
“We want to play to the best of our ability and if we do that it will give us a good chance of winning the tournament. The key for us now will be integrating the new players from Australia and New Zealand in a short time, but we’re confident going into our first game.”
The round-robin tournament concludes on Saturday 26 November with the winner going on to join OFC’s top seven teams (based on the FIFA/Coca-Cola Ranking) for the Stage 2 Qualifiers in Fiji next June.
For the match schedule click here
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ Qualifiers – OFC Stage 1
Cook Islands [COK] vs Samoa [SAM]
Tuesday 22 November
J.S. Blatter Stadium
Apia, Samoa
Local kick-off: 5:30pm
Referee: Peter O’LEARY [NZL]
Assistant referee 1: Jan-Hendrik HINTZ [NZL]
Assistant referee 2: Ravinesh KUMAR [FIJ]
Fourth official: Isidore ASSIENE-AMBASSA [NCL]
Cook Islands: 1. Tony JAMIESON, 2. Mii JOSEPH, 3. Nikki TE MIHA, 4. Tahiri ELIKANA, 5. Nathan TISAM, 6. Paavo MUSTONEN, 7. Grover HARMON, 8. Roger MANUEL, 9. Campbell BEST, 10. Gichin FUHINIU, 11. Joey NGAUORA, 12. Twin TIRO, 13. Emiel BURROWS, 14. Junior PUROKU, 15. John Michael QUIJANO, 16. Taylor SAGHABI, 17. Branden TUREPU, 18. Paul VAN EIJK, 19. Terii FRAMHEIN, 20. Junior LUPENA
Coach: Shane RUFER [NZL]
Samoa: 1. Horst PETANA, 2. Andrew SETEFANO, 3. Charles Oloitefu BELL, 4. Vaalii FAALOGO, 5. Silao MALO, 6. Pati BELL, 7. Jarrell SALE, 8. Penitito TUMUA, 9. Max Tom HOEFLICH, 10. Luki GOSCHE, 11. Too GOSCHE, 12. Mike SAOFAIGA FOAI, 13. Lionel TAYLOR, 14. Joseph HOEFLICH, 15. Ray VICTOR, 16. Sapati UMUTAUA, 17. Desmond FA’AIUASO, 18. Jared CURTIS, 19. Shaun EASTHOPE, 20. Peni KITIONA, 21. Ethan HANS ELISAIA, 22. Masi TOETU, 23. Jordan VON HEIDERBRANDT
Coach: Tunoa LUI [SAM]

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