By Josh Thomas
Sporting News
American Samoa captain Nicky Salapu wants to play the Socceroos again and has even got Tim Cahill to agree to the idea of a potential charity match.
Salapu was in goal for his nation exactly 20 years ago when Australia claimed a world record 31-0 win in World Cup qualifying.
Just 20 years of age at the time, Salapu was still one of his side’s more experienced players and was helpless as Archie Thompson scored 13 times alone.
While the match itself was farcical, American Samoa have improved in the years since and claimed their first ever official win in 2011 against Tonga.
Salapu, who is back with the national team after a near five-year absence, now has the Socceroos in his sights and the veteran shot-stopper is clearly desperate for some measure of revenge.
The 40-year-old revealed he often plays FIFA with his son and does his best to make sure American Samoa turn the tables on the green and gold.
Though taking some enjoyment from those virtual victories, Salapu is eager to make a real-life rematch happen before he hangs up his boots.
“We run up the score, like I would freeze my remote and my son would keep scoring and scoring and then we’d post it on Facebook,” Salapu told Boundless Body Radio earlier this year.
“Like I’d take a picture of 50-0, American Samoa vs Australia, and then I’d post on Facebook. The reason I’m doing it is I’m just asking Australia to play a friendly game.
“Me and Tim Cahill…he’s the most awesome, amazing guy you will meet in life. I met him at the movie premiere over in New York and I asked him, ‘Hey, can we get a rematch? Like American Samoa vs Australia, just for charity?’ He agreed with it.”
While eager for a rematch, the original clash took its toll on Salapu, who contemplated quitting football in the aftermath.
“For me mentally, at half-time, I was really exhausted. I said a little prayer, cried a little bit when I was thinking to myself what can I do better to help my team out. God gave me the strength to survive the rest of the game,” he said.
“It was devastating and it was hard to deal with because when I was in Australia they kept saying, ‘Do you remember when we beat you 31-0?’.
“I thought about quitting and playing rugby in 2003 or 2004. But it will always be the love of my life.”
American Samoa’s heavy defeats and their quest to win a match was documented in the 2014 film Next Goal Wins with a theatrical take on those events to be released later this year.
Well known New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi will direct the movie with Michael Fassbender, Elisabeth Moss and Armie Hammer among its stars.
