American Samoa vs. Cook Islands: Download Match Summary Here
See below for all the play-by-play action.
Starting line-ups:
American Samoa: 1. Nicky SALAPU (GK), 2. Jr AMISONE (c), 3. Uasi HELETA, 4. Daru TAUMUA, 5. Tala LUVU, 9. Ramin OTT, 14. Charlie UHRLE, 16. Johnny SAELUA, 18. Justin MANA’O, 19. Rawlston MASANIA’I, 20. Shalom LUANI
Substitutes: 6. Roy LUANI, 7. D’Angelo HERRERA, 8. Casper KURESA, 10. Kid BARTLEY, 11. Diamond OTT, 12. Terrence SINAPATI, 13. Rambo TAPUI, 15. Gene NEEMIA, 17. Natia NATIA, 21. Suani UELESE, 22. Fitiuta MAIAVA, 23. Chin Fu TAASE (GK)
Coach: Thomas RONGEN (NED)
Cook Islands: 1. Tony JAMIESON (GK), 2. Mii JOSEPH (c), 3. Nikki TE MIHA, 4. Tahiri ELIKANA, 5. Nathan TISAM, 7. Grover HARMON, 9. Campbell BEST, 10. Gichin FUHINIU, 17. Branden TUREPU, 18. Paul VAN EIJK, 22. Paavo MUSTONEN
Substitutes: 8. Roger MANUEL, 11. Joseph NGAUORA, 13. Emiel BURROWS, 14. Tuka TISAM, 16. Taylor SAGHABI, 19. Terii FRAMHEIN, 20. Iona LUPENA (GK), 21. Junior PUROKU
Coach: Paul TUREPU (COK)
Referee: Bruce GEORGE [VAN]
Assistant referee 1: Jackson NAMO [SOL]
Assistant referee 2: Michael JOSEPH [VAN]
Fourth official: Peter O’LEARY [NZL]
The match kicks off
1′ Justin Mana’o has an early chance from a long-range free kick but hits his effort over the bar
3′ Cook Islands captain Mii Joseph tries his luck with shoot from well out but the ball bounces narrowly wide of Nicky Salapu’s goal
6′ Tahiri Elikana sends a deep free kick into the American Samoa box but Salapu gathers comfortably
7′ Cook Islands survive a goalmouth scramble when goalkeeper Tony Jamieson claims the ball after several players from both sides have fought for it
9′ Campbell Best runs onto a through ball for Cook Islands but is crowded out before he can shoot
11′ Ramin Ott has a strike at the Cook Islands goal from a long way out but Jamieson makes a straightforward save
13′ Following up from their historic win over Tonga, American Samoa have begun confidently and look capable of winning this match
15′ American Samoa are awarded a free kick just outside the box but Ott blasts it too high
18′ American Samoa have a great chance to open the scoring after a flowing move started by defender Johnny Saelua but Mana’o lifts his shot over the bar
22′ Salapu comes out to clear a long Cook Islands ball
24′ GOAL!!! American Samoa 1 – Cook Islands 0: American Samoa take the lead when Shalom Luani pounces on a loose ball and holds off a couple of challenges before prodding past Jamieson
28′ Luani tries to get on the scoresheet again but his speculative volley from distance goes nowhere near the target
30′ Jamieson punches away a Luani cross and the ball breaks to Mana’o, who puts his shot from the edge area wide with Jamieson in no man’s land
31′ American Samoa have another great chance seconds later when Ott goes one-on-one with Jamieson and the goalkeeper saves well with his left boot
34′ YELLOW CARD: Paul Van Eijk is cautioned for Cook Islands
36′ Campbell Best latches onto a Gichin Fuhiniu pass for Cook Islands and shoots but the effort is blocked
37′ Ott sees his cushioned volley from a looping Mana’o ball go over the bar
38′ Best makes room for a shot on the right hand edge of the American Samoa box but can’t find the target
39′ Ott breaks down the right and fires a centre across the face of the Cook Islands goal
42′ Nathan Tisam gets to a Paavo Mustonen free kick at the far post but can’t make a clean connection
43′ Luani drags a shot from just outside the box wide for American Samoa
44′ Jamieson leaves his line to make a low catch from a Mana’o pass
45′ One minute of injury time will be played
The first half comes to an end
The second half kicks off
46′ American Samoa have a great chance to extend their lead straight after the restart when Ott blasts over the bar from the edge of the box
49′ Mustonen whips a free kick towards the American Samoa goal from the left touchline but Salapu gathers easily on the bounce
50′ Salapu has another piece of straightforward work to do in saving Branden Turepu’s effort
50′ The ball quickly breaks to the other end where Jamieson saves from Luani
52′ Fuhiniu volleys well over the American Samoa bar from 20 yards out
54′ Cook Islands are enjoying their best spell of the match and clearly have no desire to be American Samoa’s second ever victims
57′ Van Eijk goes down for Cook Islands and leaves the field to receive treatment
57′ SUBSTITUTION: Van Eijk is replaced by Joseph Ngauora for Cook Islands
60′ Best does well to break into the American Samoa box on the right and pulls the ball back for substitute Ngauora but the latter’s shot is blocked
61′ Best shows good close control just outside the area and shoots but his effort goes just wide
62′ GOAL!!! Cook Islands 1 – American Samoa 1: Cook Islands draw level when the unfortunate Tala Luvu heads a Mustonen free kick into his own net
63′ YELLOW CARD: Saelua is cautioned for American Samoa
66′ Salapu cuts out a low Best cross at his near post
69′ SUBSTITUTION: Fuhiniu is replaced by Tuka Tisam for Cook Islands
72′ SUBSTITUTION: Charlie Uhrle is replaced by Rambo Tapui for American Samoa
74′ Substitute Tapui nearly gets in on goal for American Samoa but is flagged offside
75′ Captain Joseph is injured for Cook Islands and leaves the field to receive treatment
76′ Joseph is back on for Cook Islands and appears to have recovered
77′ Joseph strikes a free kick from long range straight into the American Samoa wall
79′ Salapu does well to volley away a Cook Islands cross from the edge of his area
79′ Jamieson leaves his line to make a save at the feet of Tapui
80′ Mustonen fires a shot across the face of the American Samoa goal
81′ Salapu is injured for American Samoa and play is held up while he receives treatment
82′ SUBSTITUTION: Uasi Heleta is replaced by Diamon Ott for American Samoa
83′ American Samoa have a good chance to win it through Tapui but Jamieson saves well at close range
83′ Cook Islands almost win it this time when Mustonen volleys a Ngauora cross over the bar
84′ Substitute Diamond Ott hits an ambitious effort towards the Cook Islands goal from wide on the right but Jamieson saves comfortably
88′ SUBSTITUTION: Turepu is replaced by Taylor Saghabi for Cook Islands
88′ There is a scramble in the American Samoa box but no Cook Islands player can get a shot away
89′ Luvu is injured for American Samoa and play is held up while he receives treatment
90′ + 2′ Luvu has to be stretchered off the field
90′ + 2′ SUBSTITUTION: Luvu is replaced by Suani Uelese for American Samoa
90′ + 2′ Three minutes of injury time will be played
The final whistle is blown