A composed performance from the 2022 semi-finalists sees them set for the top four again after dispatching Tahiti 3-1.
For Tahiti on two points, today’s game meant that only victory would be enough to secure progression to the semi-finals. For Samoa, meanwhile, just a point was required to make the tournament’s top four.
Oteta Kitiona was pulling the strings from midfield for Samoa, teeing up Lilly Dowling for an early warning shot before setting up an early penalty, as she played in Malia Jessop who was then brought down by Vateanui Deane. Ariana Skeers stepped up to coolly convert the resulting penalty and secure an early lead for Samoa.
Kitiona turned goalscorer 12 minutes later after a quick counterattack. Dowling put a tantalizing cross into the Tahitian penalty to Kitiona’s feet, initially miscued her shot, but quickly recovered to slot past Camille Andre and double her side’s advantage.
Tahiti weren’t going down without a fight though, forcing their way back into the game through Tauhere Teore, catching Samoa out after Breanna Kitiona’s backpass to Salanoa and Teore spied an opportunity to force the error, pressing the goalkeeper to turn over possession and poke the ball home into the empty net, restoring Tahitian hope as the sides went into half time.
The second half was a more controlled affair, with both sides conscious that any mistakes could change the trajectory of their tournament.
Jessop put the game beyond doubt on the stroke of the second half cooling break. Receiving the ball in midfield, she took advantage of the retreating Tahitian defence to unleash a rocket of a shot that Andre could only get a hand to.
Samoa must now wait for the result of the second Group A game of the day, Cook Islands vs Papua New Guinea, to determine whether they go through to the semi-finals as runners up or group winners.
HT: 2-1
Samoa: 2 (Ariana SKEERS 5’; Oteta KITIONA 18’; Malia JESSOP 75’)
Tahiti: 1 (Tauhere TEORE 38’)
Photo credit: OFC Media via Phototek