The FFS Football Stadium in Apia, Samoa, was the venue for the first matches of the first round of OFC qualifying for FIFA World Cup 26™ where both Tonga and Samoa punched their tickets to Sunday’s decider.
Hemaloto Polovili scored a goal and provided an assist to help Tonga defeat Cook Islands 3-1, while second half goals from Dilo Tumua and Jarvis Vaai earned Samoa a 2-0 win against American Samoa.
Cook Islands 1-3 Tonga
Tonga returned to World Cup qualifying for the first time since September 2015 and used a strong first half to down Cook Islands.
Tonga started off the stronger of the two and landed the first blow in the 27th minute to take a 1-0 lead. Polovili hit a ball over the top that was controlled nicely by Viliami Tikoipaul, whose exquisite first touch allowed him to slot home.
Polovili was at the heart of the second Tonga goal in the 39th minute, with the captain playing a surgical pass into Ulafala Sonasi Jr., who was brought down while trying to round Cook Islands goalkeeper Ngereine Zachary Maro. Polovili stepped up to take the spot kick and hammered home his effort to double the lead.
Cook Islands looked to bounce back after the break and half-time substitute Tremaine Rimene-Albrett nearly pulled a goal back for his side as a shot from distance forced Tonga goalkeeper Semesi Koloa’ia Otukolo into a fingertip save.
Instead, it was a mistake from the Tonga defence that allowed Cook Islands to make inroads, with Taci Kumsuz swooping in to fire past Otukolo to halve the deficit in the 63rd minute.
Just when it looked as if Cook Islands would even things up, Tonga struck for a crucial third in the 79th minute, with Sonasi Jr. playing into Christopher Kefu, who confidently finished to complete the 3-1 scoreline.
American Samoa 0-2 Samoa
Samoa won their 11th straight international match and sixth straight qualifier against American Samoa in a nervy late afternoon encounter.
It was an even first half, with little between the two teams. American Samoa came closest to scoring when they hit the post inside the first ten minutes, while Samoa had the bulk of possession but did not get their first good look at goal until a free kick flashed wide shortly before half-time.
American Samoa goalkeeper Nicky Salapu made the save of the day early in the second with an instinctive block from an Andrew Setefano header.
But there was nothing Salapu could do to prevent Dilo Tumua from opening the scoring from the penalty spot in the 60th minute. Alton Leiataua was fouled in the American Samoa area, resulting in the spot kick that Tumua converted for a 1-0 lead.
A reckless challenge from Leiataua in the 73rd minute on Salapu warranted a second yellow card and a sending off, giving American Samoa a man advantage for the final stages of the encounter.
Samoa hung tough though and a goal from Jarvis Vaai in the final seconds put the finishing touch on the victory.
