Samoa had a very good first half against Tonga in the most recent match of the U-17 OFC Championship; enough to secure them a spot at the quarterfinals. The Samoans scored a total of four goals in the first 45 minutes – confirming their 6-0 win in the second half with more two goals.
The Samoans were always a threat to the Tongan defense: the team captain Pharrell Trainor and the No. 10 Ethlbert Edward were the key players in attack for the team coached by the legend Desmond Richmond Fa’aiuaso. The Tongans were able to cope with the danger, but at the 20th minute the deadlock was open: Trainor had a fantastic individual play and found Edward at the middle of the box to chip it over the goalkeeper to score the first for the Samoans.
Just three minutes later it was Trainor’s turn to the find nets with a fantastic solo effort. Trainor, once again, two minutes later, scored another for his team – he dribbled past the goalkeeper and placed it calmly into the nets. Still in the first half Edward was found free at the edge of the penalty area to put one more past Tongan goalkeeper Siosuia Moimoi. The fourth goal was already scored close to the final minutes of the first half.
The final 45 minutes saw the Samoans slow down the tempo of the game – the Tongans were able to create some goalscoring chances especially through the pace of the striker Alexander Hola, but not enough to secure a consolation goal for the team coached by Lui Muavesi.
At the 70th minute the tall striker Trainor added another to his tally after a very good assist from Lepea’s Ethlbert Edward. The striker controlled the ball between two defenders and placed it well at the bottom corner of goalkeeper Moimoi.
The skipper had time to add one more to the scoreline at the 85th minute; Olé Academy’s talent Malakye Paterson found Trainor with a brilliant pass, letting him in a one-on-one situation and with a strong shot put it another for Samoa. His fourth in the game.
Samoa could had scored even more goals in the match if they were able to capitalise all chances they created. The final scoreline shows the dominance of the Samoan team over Tonga: 6-0.
The Tongans still have one more match to be played in the group stage; they will the hosts Fiji in Suva, while the Samoans will wait the completion of the matches to confirm which side they will take in the quarterfinals.
Oceania Football Center 