They drew with the Philippines 4-4 and edged Myanmar 3-2 as First Lady Cynthia Moliga watched and cheered from the sidelines. Also on hand to cheer the team on was shot put silver medalist for American Samoa, Dennis Vaiga.
American Samoa has been grouped together with the Philippines, Myanmar and Samoa as a result of the divisioning process held on December 2 of the 5-a-side version of soccer for the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games in Newcastle, Australia.
There are a total of three divisions with the Territory’s squad playing in Division B and will resume the competition on December 5 (December 4 local time) after a rest day on December 4.
American Samoa’s last game of the round-robin contest to determine the top two teams that will vie in the gold match on December 6 will be against Samoa. A win will improve the territory’s team’s chances of competing in the game for gold.
First Lady Moliga bid the American Samoa Special Olympics team farewell as she will be making her way back home with Officer So’o Moliga but not before imparting words of encouragement to all the competitors, as well as treating them to a late lunch of pizza.
“On behalf of your country, parents, friends and family back home, I wish you the best and we take our hats off to you,” she said. “Officer So’o an I leave tomorrow but God Bless all of us and God Bless you and your efforts.”
Head of Delegation, Tafa Tua-Tupuola, thanked the first lady and praised all the competitors, saying she was amazed with their performance.
“I am so proud of all of you with the efforts you have put in so far and you have all proven to us how brave you all have been during the competition,” she said.
AMERICAN SAMOA 4, PHILIPPINES 4
The Philippines were up quickly 2-0 before American Samoa stormed back thanks to two goals by Saito Mauga to tie the game.
A.S. then took the lead 3-2 thanks to a goal from Tausisi Amituana’i but the Philippines answered with two goals to lead 4-3.
Samoa Togo gave the team some relief with a late goal for the equalizer.
AMERICAN SAMOA 3, MYANMAR 2
Mauga and Peleti Filipi Jr. combined to give American Samoa a 2-0 lead before they started to play poorly and give the big advantage away with Myanmar coming back strong to tie it 2-2.
In the waning minutes of the game Mauga scored the game winner after missing numerous chances at scoring
If he had scored on all his chances it would have been a rout instead of a nail biter of a game.