American Samoa’s first match outside of Oceania has ended in a 5-2 defeat to the US Virgin Islands in a FIFA Series fixture at the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. 

With new head coach Diego Gomez leading the nation for the first time, American Samoa did at least score their first international goal against a nation outside of OFC, but it proved in vain after leaking goals in a poor beginning to the contest.

American Samoa were caught cold at the start, conceding three goals inside the first 20 minutes as US Virgin Islands eased into an early unassailable lead.  

It took just seven minutes for Joshua Ramos to open the scoring for the Caribbean nation, turning home a low cross from Jett Blaschka into the back of the net.  

Making his senior international debut, Toryn Penders added a bright spark for the US Virgin Islands down the right wing throughout. He scored twice in 120 seconds to virtually seal the outcome of the match inside the first twenty minutes, twice beating American Samoa’s own debutant goalkeeper Kai Yandall.  

Captain Jannick Liburd resumed the scoring with the US Virgin Islands’ fourth goal in the 53rd minute – also his first at senior international level.  

American Samoa weren’t to go down without a fight though, adding some respect to the scoreline with two late goals.  

Captain Ali’i Mitchell scored both – first winning a penalty that saw opposing defender Brad Robinson sent off with a red card. Mitchell duly sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot, before stealing possession back moments after the restart and adding a second with a sublime finish on his left foot into the bottom-left corner.  

The US Virgin Islands rallied, winning a penalty of their own in second half stoppage-time and added a fifth goal through Jimson St. Louis to hold on for their first victory in an official FIFA-recognised match since 2022.  

Whilst it isn’t the result Gomez and his American Samoa side wanted; they improved as the match progressed and will face either Guam or Puerto Rico in their second FIFA Series match on Saturday local time. 

US Virgin Islands: 5 (Joshua RAMOS 7’, Toryn PENDERS 19’, 20’, Jannick LIBURD 53’, Jimson ST. LOUIS (P) 90+3’) 
American Samoa: 2 (Ali’i MITCHELL 80’, 82’) 

HT: 3-0  

Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek