American Samoa beat the Cook Islands 3-1 on the final Match Day of the OFC U-16 Championship Qualifier thanks to a pair of PKs, and a great finishing goal by the youngest player on the field.
Xavior Leatualevao, only 14 years old, came on in the 81st minute for Peter Lauvao, and four minutes later, with American Samoa holding on to a slim 2-1 lead, volleyed a cross from Vaha Tua at the back post to create pandemonium on the field for the territory’s team.
“I was surprised when I saw the ball coming to me,” Leatualevao recalled.
“My only thought then was to kick it inside.”
Samoa completed a clean sweep of the tournament with a 9-0 win over Tonga in the second game of the day on Friday, July 20, 2018 at Loto-Tonga Soka Center in Veitongo, Tonga, to officially qualify for the second stage next month.
With the loss by Tonga, American Samoa officially ends the tournament on two high notes, a win and a second-place finish in the tournament.
“It’s a good win for us, especially it was the last game of the tournament,” said the team’s coach, Rupeni Luvu.
“Cook Islands had a good team, but I am glad our boys came through for us with the win.”
